2/11/00
The new Coorow Telecentre has the potential to become one of the most important resources in the town, according to Regional Development Minister Hendy Cowan.
Speaking at today’s official opening ceremony, Mr Cowan said there was a wide range of possibilities for people using the new telecentre.
“Across the State, some telecentres now offer everything from in-store banking through to accessing university courses, on-line legal advice, employment services, counselling, newsletter publishing, secretarial work and Medicare claims lodgement,” he said.
“This is on top of traditional services such as access to state-of-the-art computers, the Internet, scanners, printers, photocopying, digital photography, video-conferencing, desktop publishing and TAFE and community education.
“Almost anything is possible, and the challenge for Coorow is to ensure its telecentre is similarly innovative, both in identifying new and changing community needs and in constantly refining and expanding its services in order to meet those needs.”
Mr Cowan said the telecentre was already performing well, despite opening its doors just a few months ago.
“There is strong interest from across the community, with people signing up as members and others coming in regularly to investigate what services are available,” he said.
Mr Cowan said the telecentre was starting out with an excellent management committee, chaired by Graeme Maley, and two very enthusiastic co-ordinators.
“The shire is also very supportive, which is a key ingredient shared by our most successful telecentres,” he said.
The Minister commended Shelley Birch and the Coorow Everlasting Committee for initiating the original telecentre proposal, and the steering committee, chaired by Victoria Syme, for ultimately bringing it to fruition.
“This has been a real community effort, from the people who steered the idea through the approvals process, right through to the volunteers who helped paint and decorate the premises prior to commencing operations," Mr Cowan said.
“Coorow is one of 76 approved telecentres to be established in WA and it is a credit to the whole community.”
Telecentres are jointly funded by the State Government's Telecommunications Initiative Fund and the Federal Government's Networking the Nation program, with the funds administered through the Department of Commerce and Trade.
Media contact: Peter Jackson 9222-9595
