Vol. No. Vol. 2418No. 4427
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Wednesday, January 13, 2022 2016 Wednesday, May 18,
APPRECIATION: Horsham Ss Michael and John’s Primary School celebrated the staff who support students and staff in the classroom on International Learning Support Officers Day on Monday. Acting principal Lisa Glatz said learning support officers were important to schools and the day provided an opportunity to acknowledge the hard work of support staff. “Our school couldn’t operate if not for the support of these wonderful people,” she said. Pictured, from left, Pam Schwarz, Felicity Taylor, Erin Connelly, Diane Egan, Daniel Smith, Laura Hancock, Riona Reynolds and Ella Ballinger, and front, Melissa Spiller and Wendy Lloyd rock some celebratory hats. Picture: PAUL CARRACHER
Problem solved BY MICHAEL SCALZO
N
orthern Grampians emergency response leaders are breathing a sigh of relief following an investigation into a loss of mobile telephone connectivity in the region.
In March, volunteer firefighters from Laharum, Brimpaen and Wonwondah brigades met with Member for Mallee Anne Webster and Telstra Victorian regional general manager Steve Tinker, detailing increasing concerns about how a lack of telephone reception was affecting day-to-day opera-
tions along with emergency response capabilities. Mr Tinker this week told The Weekly Advertiser that northern Grampians community members could rest assured the company had resolved an issue causing connectivity decline since early 2022. He said while monitoring showed the Grampians locations were receiving and transmitting calls during the period of concern, a meeting with CFA Grampians Group representatives prompted the company to perform a ‘detailed investigation’. Mr Tinker said he believed the issue
was ‘software related’ and technical changes and resets appeared to have solved the problem. Laharum CFA captain Luke Dumesny said mobile connectivity had improved and the result was indicative of the power of community groups to make a difference. “We were able to use the CFA and emergency response volunteers as a face of the issue and obviously a collective like this can assist in getting things resolved quicker,” he said. “That’s what community groups are all about – looking after each other and getting things done.”
Mr Dumesny said mobile coverage had returned to a similar reliability to before the software problems and Telstra had, ‘within reason’, done what it could to solve the issues. “Obviously there are spots that are still dead zones,” he said. “They are mainly behind tree lines and mountains, and unless we have a tower at every corner, those problems are not going to be resolved quickly.” Mr Dumesny said the meeting with Mr Tinker and Dr Webster in March enabled the group to highlight the danger a lack of coverage posed to a
bushfire-prone region, to media, politicians and coverage providers. He said it was important community groups raised issues with appropriate people when problems arose, showcasing the effectiveness of a streamlined response. “Instead of Telstra being bombarded with individuals, Steve Tinker and Telstra were able to help us out and get everything rectified,” he said. “We appreciate the assistance given. They got it sorted in only a few weeks after we met with Steve and Dr Webster.” Continued page 3
IN accommodation plan • Quantong residents stand strong • Football-netballaction action IN THIS THISISSUE ISSUE• Crisis • COVID-19 disrupting sport • Education Week feature • Football-netball Phone: 03 5382 1351 Read it online: www.theweeklyadvertiser.com.au
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