When the global pandemic hit Australia and our communities were thrown into lockdown, we turned to digital technology to make sure those living in the Newman community still felt connected with one another.
We created the Newman Futures Community Board during a time of vast confusion, uncertainty and fear within local communities.
It was created with three clear objectives; to provide a single source of truth during a tumultuous time, to build strong communities and to be a valuable resource for organisations, businesses and individuals in Newman.
Here we encouraged strength, resilience and connection in Newman, but as life returns to a new kind of normal, we feel the Community Board has served its purpose and it will be discontinued.
Newman Futures project manager Jessica Barker said digital technology fast became the best way to connect communities during the pandemic.
“Once the initial panic of COVID-19 passed, we saw a re-emergence of compassion and comradery in the Newman community and we knew we had to develop a way to share information, when it couldn’t be done in person,” she said.
“The Community Boards were a way of using digital technology to make sure people in Newman felt connected to their community, while receiving important information through a reliable source.
“But as we enter our new normal, living with COVID-19 in our communities, we feel the Community Board has done what it was designed to do.”
While the Community Board will be discontinued, Newman Futures continues to share reliable information regarding all its projects, as well as broader news and updates about Newman, on its Facebook page.
There is also runs the Newman Futures Stronger Together Facebook group, a space for all businesses, organisations and individuals to share news, updates and feel-good stories and achievements with the local community. We strongly encourage you to join the group and engage with other community members online.
