1st CGDN website developed by local students goes live!
03/Sep/2007
Secondary School IT students in the Victorian town of Korumburra have set a benchmark initiative by developing their community's CGDN website as part of their curriculum.
Supported by local business and community groups, Year 9 students of Korumburra Secondary College have been developing the community-based website for several months, and celebrated its launch on the 3rd September, 2007.
Jennifer Young from the website hosting organisation - Korumburra Community Development and Action Inc. says "The philosophy of the local website is to be as inclusive as possible and that we hope it will provide a platform to unite the community, disseminate information, engage the community and to provide a mechanism to promote Korumburra both to the local community as well as world wide."
The Korumburra Streetlife project 2007 - a six-month Victorian Government initiative managed by the South Gippsland Shire Council's Economic Development Unit to encourage diverse and sustainable business growth - supported the development of www.korumburra.vic.au in conjunction with the Korumburra's Business Association and the Community Access Centre.
"The way in which the students are assisting their local community is outstanding and their commitment to this project is typical. The level of commitment shown by the Korumburra Secondary College indicates that this project could be successful in other communities looking to strengthen ties and nourish local business." said Peter Gardener, co-ordinator of Korumburra Streetlife.
"The key is to develop a sustainable business plan which is appropriate and relevant to each community and their level of commitment. The next part of the project is to develop a sustainable editorial/management group which might involve some Year 11 and 12 students forming a "micro" business to manage the website in conjunction with business and community groups" said Mr Gardener.
"This whole project has successfully become a 'collaborative partnership' with no one person as the driving force behind the ideas" said Mr Gardener.
Please visit their new home on the net: www.korumburra.vic.au
