News
Page 12 The Moorabool News – 26 April, 2022
Missed out on home Moorabool News delivery? Pick up your copy from …
Email - news@themooraboolnews.com.au
MN
Bacchus Marsh Village Shopping Centre Aldi Bacchus Marsh Newsagency Foodworks Seven Eleven Service Station Arbee Real Estate Alan Mance Graham Street Apco Service Station Ray White Real Estate Foodworks Fuel Lerderderg Library Maddingley Bacchus Marsh Railway Station Wilsons Hardware Lucky Seven Store Terry White Chemist Darley IGA Darley Darley Service Station Greedy Grub Take-away Moorabool Shire Office Halletts Way Melton Woodgrove Customer Service Desk Coles Melton South Melton Toyota Ballan IGA Ballan Ballan Newsagency Ballan Railway Station Ballan Take-Away Ballan FRESH Fruit & Veg Moorabool Shire Office Stead Street Ballan Hardware Ballan Health & Care Crossroads Trading John Kontek Real Estate Rayner Real Estate Blackwood Blackwood Post Office Gordon Gordon PO Gordon Store Bungaree Bungaree General Store Buninyong Buninyong Foodworks Buninyong Milk Bar Lal Lal Lal Lal Hall Elaine Elaine General Store Meredith Meredith General Store
To read your local news on our website Simply go to themooraboolnews.com.au Then click
Kristian, Esther and Eli enjoy the CoderDojo program at Ballan Library. Photo - submitted
Opportunity for young coders
By Lachlan Ellis Information Technology (IT) is an industry that doesn’t look like slowing down any time soon, and young Mooraboolites now have the chance to learn about coding for free in a fun, relaxed environment. CoderDojo is a global program of free programming workshops, and thanks to local volunteers, a Ballan chapter of the program has opened this year, open to ages 7 to 18. Patrick Bonello is a Ballan resident and also a mentor for ‘CoderDojo @ Ballan Library’, and said the sessions offered a useful start to coding. “The CoderDojo is about giving kids a space to be able to be creative with coding, so either learning how to make games, or program little robots. It’s a location for kids that maybe don’t fit into that traditional sporting environment, but want to be able to interact and engage, and learn how to code in a space that’s really conducive,” Mr Bonello told the Moorabool News. “It’s about the kids deciding what they want to do, it’s not a classroom. Essentially, it’s a club for kids to get together and learn how to code. Technology is such a part of our integrated lifestyle, that getting kids involved can set them up for a career in something they’re really passionate about.” Mr Bonello said it wasn’t unusual for the sessions that have been run so far to be at capacity, and hoped more volunteer mentors would get on-board in the future, to give more kids the opportunity to get involved. Ashley Nicholls, who moved to Ballan less than three years ago, has been a driving figure in getting the program organised in Ballan.
Letters to the Editor Dear Editor, With respect, as just another ordinary member of our proud community for the past 34-years, I was rather disappointed with the choice of a political advertisement, disguised as an article, on the front page of the last edition (M/News 19 April), which suggested that our communities best interest was the main objective. Gary Shaw Ballan
He said taking part in Moorabool Shire Council’s Community Leadership Program had helped him get the local chapter of CoderDojo off the ground. “When we moved to Ballan, I tried to work out what I could be a part of. With country towns, it’s great to be active with others,” Mr Nicholls said. “I saw Moorabool Shire’s Community Leadership Program, and got involved with that. I wasn’t sure what I really wanted to do, and the program I was originally planning wasn’t really possible thanks to COVID…but I built a good network with the Council. “I put a post up on a Ballan community group, asking if any adults would like to be part of a coding group. I got no response other than Bec who works at the Shire, who said her kids would like to do something. I did some research on what was out there, and found the CoderDojo program … it all went from there.” After trials late last year, CoderDojo had its first full sessions at the Ballan Library in Term 1 this year. CoderDojo @ Ballan Library sessions run fortnightly during school terms, with Term 2 sessions running on Saturday 7 May, Saturday 21 May, Saturday 4 June, and Saturday 18 June, all from 1 pm to 3 pm. For attendees 12 and under, a parent or guardian must join you for the session. A laptop is also required for the sessions. If you don’t have one, let Moorabool Libraries know in advance and one can be supplied. For any enquiries or to reserve a laptop, email ballan_library. au@coderdojo.com, or ring Moorabool Libraries on 5366 7100. Dear Editor, Ausnet Ad perfect example of deception Ausnet’s Western Victoria Transmission Network Project advertisement in the Moorabool News (12 April, Page 4) is a perfect illustration of their deception and lack of transparency about this project. Why does the photo show one lone wind turbine in a picturesque sunset? The project is about 85m high steel transmission towers stretching 180km through our communities and environment. Clearly a photo of towers is too ugly to even put in their own advertising. Shame on you AusNet – show the true and whole picture of how your ugly and dangerous towers will sherdominate our farming landscapes. Nick & Vicki Sher Ballan