History

SeniorNet Warkworth Inc. - A Thumbnail Sketch

The idea of 'seniors' teaching each other the use of a computer started in the United States in 1986.  A group of these seniors banded together to swap ideas and to learn about the new IT age from each other.  They did not want to be left out of this new domain associated with bright young people, often their own Grandchildren.  So a unique system of peer to peer computer learning was born.

It was quickly brought to New Zealand where the first group was formed in Wellington in 1992 and in the following year in Nelson.  The concept had much appeal and was quickly embraced by other groups around New Zealand.  There are now over 100 SeniorNets around the country, over one quarter of the World total.  Why?  Because at the outset strong sponsorship from Telecom, Microsoft, and various Community Trusts meant that these groups were well founded, and now is sponsored by TelstraClear.  Each club is autonomous, not for profit, and operates with relatively simple rules - members must be over 50 years of age and must be involved principally to learn IT related subjects from each other.

SeniorNet Warkworth was formed in 1996 with the help of the sponsors already mentioned and additional local support from RDC, Rodney Health Trust, Rotary, and many others.  Some of our very first members are still with us and comprise part of our active membership of well over 400.  We are not considered a very big club by SeniorNet standards as some main centres are able to boast of clubs exceeding 1000.  Our Learning Centre is established at 3 Matakana Road, Warkworth.

Over the years we have developed over 27 structured courses ranging from a free computer pre-purchase talk, right through to advanced word processing, desk-top publishing, spreadsheets, and digital imaging, to mention a very few.  Latterly members have shown a keen interest in digital cameras, card making, genealogy, and other diverse computer-related subjects. We try to keep pace with the ever-changing new software that emerges and installed on new computers  There are no exams after each course, which adds to the appeal.  We simply learn from each other, and recognise that learning is a continuing lifelong experience.

There are 5 Terms per year, each one comprised of 8 full weeks of lesson modules, although there are also several workshops, 2 and 4-lesson courses within this time-frame.  Our 'school holidays' are the one-week breaks between each term and the December-January holiday period.

Critical to our success is the band of volunteer tutors who give up many hours of their personal time for free to pass on their knowledge to their peers.  This has enabled course fees to be kept at a modest level and the teaching ratio of one tutor to two students for many classes is a source of much pride.  The results are proven as we get many members embarking on one course after another, each a little more advanced than the last, in their thirst for IT knowledge.  There is a realisation by many retired folk that their 'education' did not stop when they left Secondary School, University, or retired.  In conjunction with the Tertiary Education Commission we have undertaken the role of an Adult Community Education (ACE) provider.

The IT revolution is arguably the biggest change ever presented to mankind and we see no reason why those over 50 cannot be directly part of that change.  The challenge for the volunteer members of the SeniorNet Warkworth management committee is to keep our club moving along with the revolution with expensive updated equipment and programs.  When involved, one does not have the time to grow old!  The image of the little old Grandma gracefully knitting in a rocking chair, with focus on her past life, is quickly disappearing.  She may well now be using her recently acquired computer skills to download digital images from her camera, on the 'net' booking her next trip away, playing bridge or chess with an opponent in Turkey, downloading music and videos, or just plain 'surfing' the over 10 billion websites available worldwide.  Seniors like you have taken to learning computers like ducks to water!

A good philosophy for Seniors to adopt is to learn computer skills so we can teach our grandchildren how to use computers properly!