Coolah District Development Group
History of the Coolah District Development Group
The Coolah District Development Group (CDDG) was formed in 1996 in response to losing the town's largest private employer, Coolah Sawmill, when Coolah Tops National Park was gazetted. The CDDG is a not for profit community organisation with our mission statement "to foster, safe, healthy, cultural and heritage environment for our community; preserve our town services, character and continue to encourage growth and development of the district with productive and sustainable industries".
One of our first initiatives in 1996, was the Telecentre with grant funding from Networking the Nation and other sources with our own ISP to connect Coolah district subscribers to the Internet for local call charge. Training courses were run and the local take up of IT was phenomenal. With the introduction of Big Pond in 2001, our ISP was put out of business with the loss of 2.5 employees. Since then, CTC was opened on part time basis as an Internet Café. CDDG subgroups used the Coolah CTC constantly for meetings, planning sessions and as office space for all committees.
During 2001, Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care awarded a grant for Information Technology (IT) Training for Seniors. Through this grant, a Coolah Seniors Computer Club (CSCC) was formed in 2003 with the aim of continuing the initiative beyond the life of the grant. A working partnership with the Coolah CTC to use the Training Room at nominal cost was negotiated
The Coolah Seniors Computer Club (CSCC) is affiliated with Australian Seniors Computer Clubs Association (ASCCA). This is a very active club whose members volunteer to conduct computer training for other seniors or other community members and are actively collecting material for a "Coolah Stories" social history book.
During 2006, Coolah was announced as NSW/ACT Community of the Year by Awards Australia in the category of less than 15,000 population - sponsored by Department of Lands. Coolah is less than one thousand population. This award is in recognition of a decade of community achievement with such initiatives as Mainstreet Beautification, Telecentre (now CTC). Ongoing projects which have been completed or are on the go are: - redevelopment of Coolah Shire Hall, upgrade of Bowen Oval Playground, annual "Rockin' at the Racecourse" Festival, tsunami relief direct to Sri Lanka through Coolah Lions, Cancer Council Relay for Life and ongoing community projects in supporting Coolah Preschool, VRA, church organisations, sporting activities for all ages and healthy lifestyle, including fitness centre, and aged care support. A quick audit of charity, special interest and fundraising groups in and around Coolah adds up to well over 45 active associations and groups.
Numerous sub-groups of the CDDG are included in the page above, entered as CDDG Groups