[Planning-en] Report from Mawson Lakes, Adelaide, Australia

[Paul Schulz]

Report on Software Freedom Showcase
held at Mawson Lakes, Adelaide, Australia
Paul Schulz (paul at mawsonlakes.org)
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The event was held in the Mawson Centre, adjacent to the Mawson Lakes
Campus of the University of South Australia and also contains the
local public library. A display of Free and Open Source Software books
had been set up, and our large (inflatable) Emperor penguin, Bill did
an excellent job promoting out event.

(Pictures of the event will be available soon.)

The event showcased the activites of two distinct groups, Bettong.Org
and Air-Stream. The event was organised by members of LinuxSA, with
assistance from the Mawson Centre itself.

  Bettong.Org (bettong.org)

    Amoung other things, Bettong.Org provides Free and Open Source
    training. They provided PC's running Ubuntu, and had the all
    important job of explaining and demonstrating what Linux and Free
    and Open Source Software is all about.

  Air-Stream (air-stream.org)

    Air-Stream is building a community wireless network in Adelaide,
    South Australia. They provided the networking for the day, and
    illustrated why open accessible communication is also important
    for building communities.

These groups were setup in separate rooms, with visitors able to
wander between the two.

In addition, several other individuals brought along computers and
equipment, demonstrating how they use Free and Open Source software
themselve. These included:

  - An installation PC - used to explain how installations worked;
  - A gaming PC with a demonstation of 3D gamin under Linux
  - An electronic music studio
  - Linux and applications running on an iPod

We may have had possibly 50 visitor come through on the day, with many
of them staying and trying out Ubuntu on one of the PC's setup.

Lunchtime entertainment was provided by 'Swing Dancers SA' and the
'Chigaco Showband'. A BBQ was also put on by the Chicago Showband.

Some statistics:

  Duration: 10am - 4pm
	    With an hour each for setting up, and the packing it in.

  People: 20 organisers, helpers and participants
	    50 or so visitors, with the main groups being
            - parents/grandparents with children
            - overseas student from local university

  Other:  CD's given away - 70 ish
            Sausages consumed - 100
            Time swing dancers danced - 1 hour
            Music pieces played by the band - 12

The day wouldn't have happened without our sponsor

  The Mawson Centre

and our supporters:

  - The Software Freedom Day organising team (you guys rock!)
  - Ubuntu - CD's, stickers
  - Bettong.Org
  - Air-Stream

and all of our helpers. A very big thankyou to all of them.

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Please contact me is you would like more information - paul at mawsonlakes.org
or see (the now out of date) website - sfs.mawsonlakes.org