IT upgrade will make life easier for Callington Show volunteers, entrants

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The Callington Show Society has completed a long-overdue upgrade of its computer systems.

Valued at more than $12,000, the upgrade was kick-started by a generous community grant of $4998 from the Rural City of Murray Bridge.

The committee will have access to new laptop computers, software and a large TV.

Optus kindly provided a new router and a generous data plan to enable a faster internet connection, while Murray Computers and Iseek Computing generously donated their time to set up the new computers.

Show treasurer Deb Lindsay successfully navigated the path to achieve not-for-profit status for the show, enabling access to thousands of dollars of computer programs at heavily discounted pricing through Connecting Up.

The new programs will enable committee members to work more effectively, enabling them to access and share documents created via the cloud, and automatically forwarding emails to relevant sub-committee members.

Exhibitors and trade site holders will be able to lodge their applications online using the new software features, which will enable timely distribution to the various committee members to process them.

The large screen TV will be invaluable for the training required to get the best use of the new systems, as the committee will be able to display electronic versions of maps, plans and documents to be discussed at committee meetings.

The TV will also be utilised on show day, October 30, for the agricultural display.

Plans have been made to develop the award-winning “paddock to plate” theme from last year’s show to include videos of agricultural production, past and present.

Renowned chef Callum Hann will open this year’s show and do a series of cooking demonstrations using local produce; these will be displayed on the TV Master Chef style so all can see what he is doing.

The Callington Show committee is grateful for the support from those involved with the IT upgrade, which will help and encourage volunteers who put together a fantastic show every year.

Show president Clive Wundersitz said the Callington Show was very fortunate to have Darryl Gravestocks and Deb Lindsay with the experience and the vision to pull the significant upgrade together.

Show society was one of 23 community grant recipients in April

Along with the Callington Show Society, a number of other organisations were able to fund their projects with the money they received from Murray Bridge council grants:

• Bridge City Church, $5000 to set up The Hub
• Brinkley Hall, $2850 for a Brinkley recipe book
• Christian Reserve sporting facility committee, $1282 for a defibrillator
• Energy Education Australia, $4982 for first aid training equipment
• Furever Farm, $2013 for vegetation
• Lifehouse International, $1642 for their “Heart for the House” project
• Monteith Public Hall, $973 for repairs to the hall’s walls
• Murray Bridge Basketball Association, $462 for a Bullets end-of-season presentation
• Murray Bridge Community Choir, $2000
• Murray Bridge Community Concert Band, $10,873 for a trailer modification and new instruments
• Murray Bridge Players and Singers, $4700 for a community space upgrade
• Murraylands Homes for the Aged, $4321 for equipment for their community centre
• Operation Flinders, $2975 for Exercise 2A/22
• Orana Australia, $9975 for a kitchen renovation
• Pony Club Association of SA Southern Zone, $4000 to renovate a common room
• REACT Marine Rescue Service, $4400 for an equipment upgrade
• Rotary Club of Mobilong, $4300 to upgrade the RSL Bowling Clubrooms
• Rotary Club of Murray Bridge, $1100 for a “Lift the Lid on Mental Illness” Rotary golf day
• Teen Challenge, $5000 for relief
• Maori Evangelical Church SA, $2000 for sideway gatherings
• Wellington Progress Association, $5000 to paint the Wellington hall