OnWithTheShow: This Is IT

History

In February of 2003 the Mount Gambier A&H Community Bank Spring Show Inc decided to develop a strategic management plan. The treasurer, Graham Carter, approached the Mount Gambier City Council and the Grant District Council for funding to employ a facilitator to hold a SWOT analysis session to collect information.

A total of $2,500 was provided, a facilitator engaged and about 30 people from a broad cross section of the community attended. out of this enthusiastic interaction came some really great ideas.

Peter Ruwoldt, IT Manager from Grant High School, suggested an IT Competition.

With the support of Elaine Pollack of the South East Consultative Committee and Rob Forgan of the Limestone Coast Development Board, a meeting was organised to apply for a grant from the Australian Information Industry Association.

We were awarded $15,000 to set up an IT Competition at the next show, which at this time was only a month away. Telstra Country Wide sponsored the initiative by providing computer systems to exhibit the anticipated competition entries. Display cabinets for the computers were built by the 'Doorways 2 Construction' team.

In the limited time available, 177 entries were received. There was no theme for this competition.

SEETA (South East Education and Training Association) recognised the innovative partnership between the Mount Gambier A & H Society Inc and Grant High School with an Education Training and Employment Services Industry Award award in 2003.

2004 saw 195 entries coming from 9 schools. The theme was "Community...IT happens in the Limestone Coast". The age group R-5 was split for this year into R-2 and 3-5. The "Presentation packages" category was by far the most popular with R-2 submitting 53 entries, 3-5 submitting 37 entries and years 6-9 submitting 68 entries. Unlike the year before, there were no open entries for any category.

In 2005 the theme was "WaterCare, IT's in your hands" and was the first year that sponsorship was sought for the prizes. This sponsorship came from the 'South East Water Week 2005 Committee'. There were 147 entries into the competition from 7 schools. 2005 also saw the introduction of the Digital Video category.

The theme of "What is a Family Friendly House?" was sponsored in prizes for the competition by Housing SA in 2006. There were 347 entries into the competition from 7 schools. 257 of these came from St Martins Lutheran College and a further 40 coming from Mount Gambier High School. Prizes for their contributions were provided to the SRC of these two schools.