General

After my presentation on preserving digital information at the recent Local Government Web Network conference, Reem told me that she received lots of enquiries about PDF/A, which I mentioned in my talk; specifically, What is it?, How to use it? and Where to get it? PDF/A is the ‘archival’ format for PDF. PDF/A has fewer "bells and whistles" than traditional PDF which minimises future migration requirements.

We did it! Our second year and our second conference went off without a hitch!

Sat in the car heading down to Canberra for the second Public Sphere, Reem, Bern (from Mosman Council), and I have been talking about the possibilities of local government on the web, and the challenges that face the web staff in councils. In New South Wales we're on varying levels when it comes to our websites, or web services. Many are still tackling the basics of getting a functioning, usable, accessible website up, whilst others are experimenting in the realms of social media.

Recently, Kate Lundy, Senator for the ACT, launched a new initiative called “Public Sphere” to engage with the community on topics of national interest. The concept aims to bring people together online to share their views on various topics, in addition to hosting a physical meet up that is live streamed over the Internet. The meet up allows people to give their two cents in short ten minute presentations on whatever aspect of the topic they choose, either in person, via skype, YouTube or other means.

We are starting to plan the program for the Local Government Web Network Conference for 2009, so now is the time where we’d really like your feedback to help us make a better conference for you. To get your feedback in a more interesting way, we are taking a leaf out of Web Directions book, and launching an Ideas Forum. This will allow you to post ideas, comment on other people’s

On Monday morning I switched on the TV and was presented with images of absolute devastation. As the images flashed before me I began to have some idea of the true horrors of the Bushfires in Victoria. Everything I did that day seemed so utterly pointless when there were people waking up without homes, knowing they'd lost family members, or not knowing.

The Local Government Web Network has setup a few new groups so that it’s easier for the network to share ideas and resources, make connections with other government and non-profit web workers (and those interested in working with our sector), and also so that you can keep up to date with news from us.

The McFarlane Prize recognizes excellence in Australian web design and development in the broadest sense, and is decided by a jury of experts in design, coding, accessibility and usability. The prize, which was started in 2006 in memory of Australian web and open source pioneer Nigel McFarlane is open to any Australian web developers or development teams, for a site completed between August 1st 2007 and August 31st this year.