The Telecentre is a fantastic social hub : Linda , Australia

Working to a common goal
Ben Anderson
Thursday, 25 August 2005

AS THE manager of two different organisations in Boyup Brook, one thing Linda Coote is good at is managing her time.
Linda splits her time between the local Telecentre and the Blackwood Basin Group.

She said she and her family made the "tree change" from Perth six years ago and quickly became involved in community activities.

"I was secretary of the P and C and one of the members of Telecentre gave me the minutes of a meeting to type up," she said.

"I handed them back the next day because I didn't have anything to do that night and it snowballed from there."

Linda started on the management committee and then took on a project officer position.

"My position was based on funding and depended on how many projects I could find to run," she said.

"Manager Jenny Secull had to leave for health and I have been manager for two years.

"My role as manager is to co-ordinate the centre, create projects and financial management."

Linda said she was constantly networking to ensure there was a connection between the Telecentre and the wider Boyup Brook community.

"The Telecentre is a fantastic social hub," she said.

"We try not to double up and make sure any service we provide are not in conflict with others."

Linda said the Telecentre was a bit of a labour of love and she works more than the 20 hours a week for which she is paid.

"You have to be very good at time management," Linda said.

As part of her other position as projects manager with the Blackwood Basin Group, Linda is involved with a national pilot scheme set up two and half years ago to develop environmental management systems for local farms.

"A regional plan was done for farms in the South West and we help landholders with what is a priority from the catchments perspective," she said.

These activities include looking after soil, tree planting, fencing of remnant vegetation, stocking rates, erosion control on tracks and roads and fire breaks.

The BBG has been going for 14 years and Linda said they had been getting a good response from the more than 60 landholders involved in the program.

"There is more of an awareness of environment issues because of the program and the Blackwood Basin Group has been used a s a model for similar environmental groups," she said.

Linda said she wasn't sure what drew her family to Boyup Brook.

"We were living in Orange Grove in Perth but wanted more land and my husband was working away from home and wanted more time here with the family," she said.

"We came to look around and put an offer on a house straight away and then had to move in a second hand transportable for place to live."

Linda said she liked being involved in the community.

"Everyone you work with has a common goal," she said.

"I like a challenge, its a great buzz to get involved in a project and see it come into fruition.

"If you can show enthusiasm you can accomplish a lot."