Digital switch end of an era

TODAY marks the end of an era. After 161 years of bringing the daily news to the Ipswich community today is the last day the Queensland Times will be printed. It is a sad day for QT readers, staff and all those who love to hold a newspaper in their hand to read. The printed paper will be truly missed by many.

Monday signals the commencement of an exciting new era for the QT when it goes digital only for the first time. Whilst many people are used to getting their news digitally and have been for some time, this marks a totally new adventure for both QT staff and readers alike.

I commenced writing the weekly Senior Matters column on the 9th October 2014, following the retirement from the QT of well-loved journalist Yvonne Gardiner. That first column highlighted how Brassall resident Zita Brown had spent 35 years as a member of the Ipswich Photographic Society. In 2020 Zita is still an active member of that club and still enters photographic competitions. What a fabulous story about one of our local residents. And over the years there were many more stories about individuals doing magnificent things in this community.

During the past six years I have been privileged to highlight through this column many or Ipswich’s community organisations activities and I must say am amazed at the achievements these organisations make and the difference they make to our way of life. But what is even more memorable and most outstanding in our community is all of these organisations are operated by volunteers – people just like you and me. And what is highly evident is that without these volunteers, you know the people running the school tuckshop the sporting club canteen, those delivering meals to the elderly, the sick and the frail, those supporting hospice, legacy, the RSL, collecting for Cancer research, the Salvos, Red Cross and countless other groups, that these organisations would not be viable without those volunteers. In fact Australia would not operate without volunteers.

In fact, we saw the value volunteers play in our community earlier this year with the devastating bush fires with the rural fire brigade most of whom are volunteers. So it has been extremely satisfying to be in a position to write about these extraordinary people and organisations in our community. And where else will you hear their stories but in the local newspaper.

If you still want to get your daily dose of the QT you will need to subscribe online. If you are not smart device literate then there is a volunteer community group called Senior Net who can provide training on how to use and get the most out of the technology.

And let’s face it, we never stop learning regardless of how old we become. Some of the most prolific users of the web and the technology that goes with it are those in their very senior years. Of course the best way to learn is to pick up the device and play with it.

Finally I thank you the readers of this column for your comments and your time taken to provide me with the information about you and your organisations. It has been a fantastic six years and I am very grateful to all of you whom I have met.