CTCA - The Network

The Holbrook CTC is a busy and thriving centre, open to the public four days a week and compiling and producing the community newsletter on the other day. CTC@Holbrook is a Section 355 committee of the local Council, located at the Community Resource Centre and co-located with the Library. It also manages a Community Meeting Room and makes some of its income by providing catering within the centre.

Holbrook manager Leonie Hibberson says, "We have developed a large range of services over the 5 years since opening. We have recently added Passport Photos which have been extremely popular and we are currently working with the RTA to provide online computer license testing which we hope will be operational by the end of February 2008. The Council is seeking funding to renovate the centre and if successful will have office space for visiting services and will house the Centrelink agency, currently at the Councils office."

Telstra Connected Seniors was a very successful program in Holbrook and neighbouring towns earlier this year and the CTC is currently delivering training for Veterans with funding sourced by the CTCA. The weekly senior’s computer club is popular and along with the usual computer classes CTC@Holbrook runs successful White Card, First Aid, RSA & RCG courses. The introduction of a tutoring program has been popular with 15 students currently being tutored.

However, Leonie believes that "Without a doubt our most valuable community contribution is the “Holbrook Happenings” a community newsletter started by the CTC in August 2004 providing local information to the Holbrook district. It is funded by local advertising which enables us to distribute 1230 free copies every fortnight."

"Holbrook Happenings" can be accessed on the web at www.holbrook.nsw.au. This is the local Community Geographic Domain, which has a website created and maintained by the CTC, funded by businesses who pay for a listing on its business directory. The use of the geographical domain name, and web development provided by the CTC has assisted local businesses and organisations gain a web presence.

Printing and publishing is a well utilised service at the CTC. This service is used by businesses, organisations and recently the CTC has begun to print and bind books. A major project undertaken this year by the CTC is the recording, documenting and printing of history books. “A history of the Holbrook Log Cabin” (a log cabin built in 1945 for the youth of Holbrook) and “A history of the Holbrook Scouting Movement” will be launched on 30th November 2008 by the CTC. Next year CTC@Holbrook hopes to compile “A history of the Holbrook Guiding Movement”. These projects were undertaken because of a concern within the community that the history of these organisations would be lost, now that the groups have folded and the original members involved are aging. In fact one of the original members passed away while the book was being compiled, which reinforces the timeliness of this project.

Leonie says "Life as a CTC manager is both hectic and exciting as you have probably ascertained from this article, but we have a passion to provide our district with services that enhance our communities and we thank the CTC Association for their continued support. The CTC Holbrook is vibrant and busy because of the fantastic and continued support of our committee and volunteers. There may be only one paid staff member but it is not a one person job!"





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	CTCA > THE NETWORK > CTC@HOLBROOK - BUSY AND THRIVING The Holbrook CTC is a busy and thriving centre, open to the public four days a week and compiling and producing the community newsletter on the other day. CTC@Holbrook is a Section 355 committee of the local Council, located at the Community Resource Centre and co-located with the Library. It also manages a Community Meeting Room and makes some of its income by providing catering within the centre. Holbrook manager Leonie Hibberson says, "We have developed a large range of services over the 5 years since opening. We have recently added Passport Photos which have been extremely popular and we are currently working with the RTA to provide online computer license testing which we hope will be operational by the end of February 2008. The Council is seeking funding to renovate the centre and if successful will have office space for visiting services and will house the Centrelink agency, currently at the Councils office." Telstra Connected Seniors was a very successful program in Holbrook and neighbouring towns earlier this year and the CTC is currently delivering training for Veterans with funding sourced by the CTCA. The weekly senior’s computer club is popular and along with the usual computer classes CTC@Holbrook runs successful White Card, First Aid, RSA & RCG courses. The introduction of a tutoring program has been popular with 15 students currently being tutored. However, Leonie believes that "Without a doubt our most valuable community contribution is the “Holbrook Happenings” a community newsletter started by the CTC in August 2004 providing local information to the Holbrook district. It is funded by local advertising which enables us to distribute 1230 free copies every fortnight." "Holbrook Happenings" can be accessed on the web at www.holbrook.nsw.au. This is the local Community Geographic Domain, which has a website created and maintained by the CTC, funded by businesses who pay for a listing on its business directory. The use of the geographical domain name, and web development provided by the CTC has assisted local businesses and organisations gain a web presence. Printing and publishing is a well utilised service at the CTC. This service is used by businesses, organisations and recently the CTC has begun to print and bind books. A major project undertaken this year by the CTC is the recording, documenting and printing of history books. “A history of the Holbrook Log Cabin” (a log cabin built in 1945 for the youth of Holbrook) and “A history of the Holbrook Scouting Movement” will be launched on 30th November 2008 by the CTC. Next year CTC@Holbrook hopes to compile “A history of the Holbrook Guiding Movement”. These projects were undertaken because of a concern within the community that the history of these organisations would be lost, now that the groups have folded and the original members involved are aging. In fact one of the original members passed away while the book was being compiled, which reinforces the timeliness of this project. Leonie says "Life as a CTC manager is both hectic and exciting as you have probably ascertained from this article, but we have a passion to provide our district with services that enhance our communities and we thank the CTC Association for their continued support. The CTC Holbrook is vibrant and busy because of the fantastic and continued support of our committee and volunteers. There may be only one paid staff member but it is not a one person job!"






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