When The News caught up with Muriel Tooley, she was helping someone load a reluctant computer desk into the back of a small car.
It didn’t work, but Muriel’s efforts were symbolic as she helped clear out the last of SeniorNet Cambridge’s chattels before it closes on March 31. The 88-year-old was there at the beginning and she’s there at the end.
Muriel was at the initial meeting in May 2000, and was among the 40 who signed up. She joined the committee a few months after they started operating in October 2000, and was tutoring people – many of them far younger than she – until the call came to close.
It’s sad, but it’s a sign of the times.
“It’s sad, but it’s a sign of the times,” she said while clearing out the last few items of furniture in the building behind Taylor Made Community Space, home to SeniorNet Cambridge throughout its 23 years.
“Things have changed. In the beginning, people wanted to know anything and everything about computers. Today, they only want help when they get into difficulty … there isn’t the same need as before.”
SeniorNet came to New Zealand in 1992. It was a US concept designed to offer digital learning to older adults.
Muriel Tooley in the rapidly emptying SeniorNet Cambridge space. The group closes on March 31.
It was initiated in New Zealand by then Telecom employee Grant Sidaway, who became SeniorNet New Zealand’s Chief Executive until his retirement in 2019. When he became a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to seniors and ICT in 2020, there were 70 clubs and 9500 members nationally. There were more at its peak, and are now far fewer.
Muriel said they started in Cambridge with Windows 98, then XP, Vista, Windows 7, 8, 10 and finally, Windows 11. Working to a teaching manual written by one of their number – the late Peter Mackley – the six tutors covered email and internet, Microsoft Word, files and folders and a range of other Microsoft subjects. More recent developments have included tablets, iPads, smart phones and digital cameras.
“As each new operating system arrived, the tuition material was updated. When Peter fell ill, he handed his files to me. Over our 23 years, we have had 1214 members here and have taught about 60 different courses and variations. We also gave help sessions to many more who didn’t join the club, held weekly drop-in help sessions and had a monthly social.”
Muriel, who also did the group’s newsletter, came to it with the same trepidation many of her pupils would have felt. The career typist bought her first computer in 1996, and was at that initial SeniorNet meeting because her neighbour wanted someone to go with.
The group’s last chairperson, Pat van der Maas, said with three members remaining this year, closure was inevitable. “Other groups are also closing… we have probably served our purpose.”
Muriel said Covid also contributed to SeniorNet Cambridge’s demise. Numbers dropped off, fewer wanted to help at committee level, and people found different ways to learn technology.
“It’s been very satisfying, but it’s time to hang up the mouse and close.”
