Tag Archives: linux.conf.au

Vale Janet Hawtin Reid

Janet Hawtin ReidJanet Hawtin Reid (@lucychili) sadly passed away last week.

A mutual friend called me a earlier in the week to tell me, for which I’m very grateful.  We both appreciate that BlueHackers doesn’t ever want to be a news channel, so I waited writing about it here until other friends, just like me, would have also had a chance to hear via more direct and personal channels. I think that’s the way these things should flow.

knitted Moomin troll by Janet Hawtin ReidI knew Janet as a thoughtful person, with strong opinions particularly on openness and inclusion.  And as an artist and generally creative individual,  a lover of nature.  In recent years I’ve also seen her produce the most awesome knitted Moomins.

Short diversion as I have an extra connection with the Moomin stories by Tove Jansson: they have a character called My, after whom Monty Widenius’ eldest daughter is named, which in turn is how MySQL got named.  I used to work for MySQL AB, and I’ve known that My since she was a little smurf (she’s an adult now).

I’m not sure exactly when I met Janet, but it must have been around 2004 when I first visited Adelaide for Linux.conf.au.  It was then also that Open Source Industry Australia (OSIA) was founded, for which Janet designed the logo.  She may well have been present at the founding meeting in Adelaide’s CBD, too.  OSIA logo - by Janet Hawtin ReidAnyhow, Janet offered to do the logo in a conversation with David Lloyd, and things progressed from there. On the OSIA logo design, Janet wrote:

I’ve used a star as the current one does [an earlier doodle incorporated the Southern Cross]. The 7 points for 7 states [counting NT as a state]. The feet are half facing in for collaboration and half facing out for being expansive and progressive.

You may not have realised this as the feet are quite stylised, but you’ll definitely have noticed the pattern-of-7, and the logo as a whole works really well. It’s a good looking and distinctive logo that has lasted almost a decade and a half now.

Linux Australia logo - by Janet Hawtin ReidAs Linux Australia’s president Kathy Reid wrote, Janet also helped design the ‘penguin feet’ logo that you see on Linux.org.au.  Just reading the above (which I just retrieved from a 2004 email thread) there does seem to be a bit of a feet-pattern there… of course the explicit penguin feet belong with the Linux penguin.

So, Linux Australia and OSIA actually share aspects of their identity (feet with a purpose), through their respective logo designs by Janet!  Mind you, I only realised all this when looking through old stuff while writing this post, as the logos were done at different times and only a handful of people have ever read the rationale behind the OSIA logo until now.  I think it’s cool, and a fabulous visual legacy.

Fir tree in clay, by Janet Hawtin Reid
Fir tree in clay, by Janet Hawtin Reid. Done in “EcoClay”, brought back to Adelaide from OSDC 2010 (Melbourne) by Kim Hawtin, Janet’s partner.

Which brings me to a related issue that’s close to my heart, and I’ve written and spoken about this before.  We’re losing too many people in our community – where, in case you were wondering, too many is defined as >0.  Just like in a conversation on the road toll, any number greater than zero has to be regarded as unacceptable. Zero must be the target, as every individual life is important.

There are many possible analogies with trees as depicted in the above artwork, including the fact that we’re all best enabled to grow further.

Please connect with the people around you.  Remember that connecting does not necessarily mean talking per-se, as sometimes people just need to not talk, too.  Connecting, just like the phrase “I see you” from Avatar, is about being thoughtful and aware of other people.  It can just be a simple hello passing by (I say hi to “strangers” on my walks), a short email or phone call, a hug, or even just quietly being present in the same room.

We all know that you can just be in the same room as someone, without explicitly interacting, and yet feel either connected or disconnected.  That’s what I’m talking about.  Aim to be connected, in that real, non-electronic, meaning of the word.

If you or someone you know needs help or talk right now, please call 1300 659 467 (in Australia – they can call you back, and you can also use the service online).  There are many more resources and links on the BlueHackers.org website.  Take care.

BlueHackers session at Linux.conf.au 2017

If you’re fortunate enough to be in Tasmania for Linux.conf.au 2017 then you will be pleased to hear that we’re holding another BlueHackers BoF (Birds of a Feather) session on Monday evening, straight after the Linux Australia AGM.

The room is yet to be confirmed, but all details will be updated on the conference wiki at the following address: https://linux.conf.au/wiki/conference/birds_of_a_feather_sessions/bluehackers/

We hope to see you there!

BlueHackers at LCA 2015 (Auckland NZ)

BlueHackers will have a presence at Linux.conf.au (this year in Auckland NZ, 12-16 Jan 2015), the awesome John Dalton is organising the BoF (Birds-of-a-Feather) session one evening, and he’ll also have a stash the little BlueHackers stickers that you can put on your laptop to show your support and understanding for mental health. Some stickers may also be available at the LCA registration desk.

Have an awesome time there – unfortunately I can’t make it this year.

Stickers at Linux.conf.au Tasmania

bluehackers-sticker-roll-lca2009Last week was linux.conf.au in Hobart, Tasmania. This seemed like an ideal opportunity to try the stickers idea. However, this being so soon after the summer holidays (yes xmas is in the summer when you live in the Southern hemisphere!) we weren’t particularly organised. Eek!

Luckily I got hold of a bright and helpful printers in Hobart who couldn’t do exactly what we needed but just arranged everything for us locally. We were pondering a few designs and sizes, but we decided on doing small stickers (of the “powered-by” shape and size) to mainly see put on laptops. Since they’re small, the chances of someone putting them on are increased. Yet the logo is so distinct that it will be spotted. Win! It’s just our logo with the url below, one colour print with gradient, and just paper (no vinyl nasties).

So what’s the objective? For as many people as possible to have these little stickers on their laptop; laptops travel around to conferences, user group meetings and work places. And thus other people get to see this quiet sign of understanding! So it’s not just a sticker to be used by people who have dealt with depression or related issues themselves, it’s for everybody wanting to show this form of support.

As we all know, the feeling of being alone with your problems is a very important aspect. The bluehackers stickers addresses this in a friendly non-intrusive way. Over 500 stickers were handed out during the last days of the conference, so they’re already travelling around the planet to be spotted elsewhere; various people also have strips of stickers with them to hand out to local user groups, colleagues, and others.

I did a lightning talk on the last day which got a fab response and triggered numerous interesting discussions afterwards. It’s clearly struck a chord, and so I guess another objective of BlueHackers is to make the topic more open or at least not taboo. Joe “Zonker” Brockmeier wrote up a  very nice blog entry about us also (“Even Hackers get the Blues“). I have another roll of 500 stickers here, which I’ll send out in chunks to various people around the planet. And more things to come.

So who’s funding all this? Well, some of the best gestures cost little or nothing. Getting the stickers made cost me a few hundred dollars, and while the stickers were handed out for free donations came in and recouped the cost plus the same again (and we still have half the stickers left as well). It’s a matter of running low-cost, and sheer numbers. We’re pondering whether to do a paypal account, but that brings up the question of whether to become a registered non-profit as we don’t want any individual to get stuck with financial or other liabilities. We’ll work it out. Naturally all donations given so far go directly towards BlueHackers activities anyway.

Through the various discussions we’ve gained additional insight in what activities might be useful, and how to go about them. More to come! And remember, the best gestures are free or cheap. Small things can make a huge difference to a person, or perhaps even many.