Cadia Valley Operations have donated $15,000 to the Bowen Community Technology Centre (CTC), helping provide Orange residents with the opportunity to access internet services.
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The Bowen CTC is entering its 10th year of operation this year, and centre manager Paula Townsend said Cadia had made donations every year the centre required funding, including a $25,000 donation to help set up the centre and buy computers.
“It’s extremely generous of them,” she said.
“Without that money we wouldn’t be able to open our doors and provide a service.”
She said the $15,000 would go a long way to covering the $35,000 needed to run the centre each year.
The Bowen CTC gives residents of not just Bowen, but from as far as Blayney, the chance to access the internet free of charge and receive help with many financial, legal and other documents.
“Some people [that come in] are illiterate and and need helping writing letters or attending government things,” she said.
She also said loans, court documents and MyGov accounts were things she helped residents take care of.
However, the service has become more popular with children, as over 4000 children used the service in 2017, with Mrs Townsend estimating 75 per cent of of the 4000 were Indigenous.
She said many come in to use the internet to do their homework.
Nearly 1000 adults came in to use the centre’s services in 2017.
“A lot of people can’t afford the library and they might not be able to take care of things themselves,” she said.
Cadia senior community relations specialist Rosie Pritchard said Cadia was proud of their involvement with the technology centre.
“Cadia has been a proud supporter of the Bowen Community Technology Centre for many years, providing funding through our Community Partnership Program, which supports programs and infrastructure which have an enduring benefit to the community,” she said.
“The Bowen CTC is a wonderful community asset providing children in the Bowen area access to computers to complete homework and other learning requirements.
“Cadia looks forward to continuing this positive partnership into the future.”