Primo Smallgoods (Pt Wakefield) is the Mid North’s largest employer and was seeking a communication solution to operate their administrative functons in addition to large bandwidth requirements to operate some very elaborate robotic technology. We met with them to explore opportunities to develop a business case which enabled an independent to legacy communication system which would scale for their future needs and most importantly, provide access to broadband to the surrounding communities. We achieved this desire by collaborating and jointly investing in new infrastructure for the region. The end result is that Primo have a high end conection which far exceeds any other option available and the communities surrounding (Owen, Balaklava, Pinery, Bowmans and Pt Wakefield) have acces to true Broadband Service which exceeds the Federal Govt Metro comparable service levels on both performance and pricing.

The internet can be a wonderful journey with unexpected consequencs. We emailed the New Britain Industrial Museum in Connecticut USA seeking historical information on our American Stanley plane embellished with the Liberty Bell, which is part of our display of our hand crafted miniature Horse Drawn Vehicles and their little people, including tools relative the coachbuilding and wheelwrighting industry of which we miniaturise. Not only did we get the information we required from the founder of the museum but she also presented our story on the front page of their quarterly newsletter, finishing with the words “We now have a friend in Australia”.

Test messages keep me in touch with my sisters and nephews. Although it is called the Short Message Service, some of the messages can be almost as long as a letter. For work the mobile phone is very important as the office for the organisation I work for is 40km away in the neighbouring town. I would only see my supervisor in person about once a month, but the mobile phone keeps us informed and in touch.

I try to stay connected by the Internet and the phone - it is the only way! *Internet is a bit on the slow side

We need broadband right across this region. I talk to people everyday who are frustrated and “can’t wait any longer’. People who have been patient for years now waiting… Hoping the promised broadband would come and they could communicate with family & friends, run their businesses, study and generally be in touch - ‘realtime’ with the world and their communities.