Five local senior citizens recently completed a short course at the Margaret River Library, learning how to use tablets to access the internet and be connected. The course was supported by a Federal Government grant via the Be Connected program.

Each participant was lent a tablet to take home for a month, so they could get hands-on and work towards becoming comfortable with the technology.

They attended a couple of group learning sessions to get started, and to assist with trouble-shooting in the early stages, with individual support offered at the end of the course.

‘The attendees all demonstrated real persistence and courage in learning how to use this technology for the first time,’ said Jodie Porter, Shire’s Library Technician. ‘Plus they were willing to have a laugh while doing so, which made the sessions enjoyable for everyone.’

Pictured are participants Ian Newton and Diana Newton-Jones, with the tablets loaned to them for the duration of the program.

In September, the Margaret River Library (in partnership with Be Connected) will launch a program that offers assistance to Seniors who would like to learn the basics of using a tablet to access the internet.

The program will be aimed at anybody who:

– Is over 50 years old

– Wants to learn the very basics

– Would like to borrow a tablet to take home for the duration of the program

– Is a member of the library, or eligible to join and borrow

We are looking for expressions of interest now, so that we can tailor the program accordingly.

If you (or somebody you know) would benefit from this program, please contact Jodie Porter on 9780 5606 or email jporter@amrshire.wa.gov.au

Places will be limited and bookings essential. The Margaret River Library is an inclusive and accessible venue.

The Noongar Boodjar Language Centre is running Noongar language lessons at the Margaret River Library commencing on Thursday 30th August.

The language lessons go for 2 hours, each Thursday for 5 weeks. Due to popular demand there are 2 sessions to choose from, afternoon or evening.

2 – 4pm Session 1
5:30 – 7:30pm Session 2

Contact the library to reserve your place. The Noongar Boodjar Language centre will invoice participants directly and the cost is $150 per person.
The Library hosted Charmaine Councillor from the Noongar Boodjar Language Cultural Aboriginal Corporation in April this year. She talked about the Master and Apprentice model which is a language revival program designed in the USA to revive and sustain languages. The lessons use this method to revive the Noongar Language and its many dialects across the South West of WA. The language lessons are designed to be fun and leave you with a conversational language skill to build on.

Dates of the lessons are: August 30th, September 6th, September 13th, September 20th, September 27th. RSVP to Ph: 9780 5600 or email: amrlibrary@amrshire.wa.gov.au

The Margaret River Library is an easily accessible venue.