Week 4

Hi!

Well yesterday (Monday) I met with James Mackay (the Events Co-ordinator) from Newcastle Council (he sends his regards John). James did not believe that his schedule of events would provide anything really beneficial for me – because in the timeframe of this semester he only has small events that are already being planned and would not provide much activity or learning for me.

James tried to think of some other possible events that would be suitable and asked Drew Ferguson-Tait, the Council’s Events Liason Officer, who manages the licensing of all major events that involve the Council. Drew suggested I go to a meeting at 6pm last night at the Hexham Bowling Club that he was attending – it was a general meeting of the Roads and Transport Awareness Group.

The RTA group organise the Roads and Transport Awareness Day which aims to raise awareness of the transportation industry. The RTA Day is primarily a private-sector motivated event, however the money raised on the day is donated to Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service and all of the organizers are volunteers and all of the materials and services are sponsored or donated.

The meeting that I attended was for the RTA group committee that consists of various stakeholders in the transportation industry. It was interesting to see what happens in a meeting and what roles are adopted for a meeting. I met some really nice people: the Secretary/minute taker Anne, the Treasurer Lynne, Bob Owens- a previously employed council Events Liason Officer, Tony McGrath the Chairman and Janine Chandler, the Volunteer Co-ordinator for Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service. Janine is assigned the promotional tasks that the RTA Day requires.

I have organised to meet with Tony the Chairman and Janine from Westpac today at 12pm to discuss my placement and to see what tasks I could do and perhaps look at my agreement form.

If this is a definite placement (I hope so!) then I will have to call Peter Clough from Nelson Bay Town Management and tell him that I cannot assist with the Tastes of the Bay Food and Wine Festival. I do not want to do this…..I’ll just have to be as amicable as possible.

Another note – whilst at the Council with James – we were discussing the evaluation process of my placement and he called on Maretta Dillon the Community Assistance Program Co-ordinator. She has just recently attended a conference on evaluating programs. She offered for me to come along to a meeting with the two men who organise and run the Council funded program ‘WHY NOT’ that helps youth get training and employment, to see how an evaluation of a program can happen. She also offered to copy the information she received from the conference she attended – this will be great for my case study!!

I’m really thankful to James Mackay and Drew Ferguson-Tait for helping me find out about this placement – I should send them a ‘Thank you’ email….

Heather.