Editing Linux Australia

{{Short description|Australian community interested in Unix-like operating systems}}
'''Linux Australia''' is the national, [[Australia]]n  [[Free and Open Source Software]] Community organisation.<ref name="Linux Australia Values">{{cite web | author=Linux Australia | year=2012 | title=Linux Australia Values | url=http://linux.org.au/values | accessdate=27 April 2012}}</ref> It was founded in 1997 and formally incorporated in [[New South Wales]] as a non-profit organisation in 1999. Linux Australia aims to represent Australian Free and Open Source Software communities and to support and collaborate with related groups, including [[Linux User Group]]s in Australia.

[[Image:Jon oxer1.jpg|thumb|right|150px|[[Jonathan Oxer]], Past President]]

== History and goals ==
Linux Australia was co-founded by Terry Dawson and Gary Allpike. The organisation was formally incorporated to provide legal support for the inaugural Conference of Australian Linux Users (now [[linux.conf.au]]). Over progressive years the organisation has steadily matured in its operation and today its major activities include the annual [[linux.conf.au]] [[Open-source model|open source]] conference, a grants program that seeds and supports relevant [[Open-source model|open source]] projects, and regular participation in public events such as conferences and exhibitions. Public relations activities include lobbying to government and corporate entities on [[Open-source model|open source]] issues and comment and opinion to the media.

== Office holders ==
The executive council is elected democratically by the organisation membership annually, and therefore changes year to year. Membership is open to anyone with an interest in furthering the goals and objectives of the organisation.

=== Presidents ===
* [[Terry Dawson]] 2001
* [[Anand Kumria]] 2002
* [[Pia Smith]]   2003, 2004
* [[Jonathan Oxer]] 2005-2007
* [[Stewart Smith (Australian)]] 2008, 2009
* [[John Ferlito]] 2010-2012
* [[Joshua Hesketh]] 2013-2015
* [[Hugh Blemings]] 2016
* [[Kathy Reid]] 2017-2019
* [[Sae Ra Germaine]] 2019-2021
* [[Joel Addison]] 2022-

Previous committee members and details can be found on the Linux Australia website http://linux.org.au/About/Council

Notable former committee members include [[Andrew Tridgell|Andrew "Tridge" Tridgell]] ([[Samba (software)|Samba]]), and [[Rusty Russell|Paul "Rusty" Russell]] (Linux Kernel, notably Netfilter and the 2.6 modules rewrite), and [[Mary Gardiner]] founder of the [[Ada Initiative]].

== The Rusty Wrench award ==
[[File:The Rusty Wrench at Coogee Beach, Feb 2013.jpg|thumb|The Rusty Wrench at Coogee Beach, Feb 2013]]
The '''Rusty Wrench''' is an award presented annually at [[linux.conf.au]] since 2005 for service to the free software community in Australia. It is named for its first recipient, [[Rusty Russell]].

=== Past recipients ===
* 2022 [[Dave Lane]]
* 2021 [[Ryan Verner]]
* 2020 [[Jonathan Oxer]]
* 2019 [[Joshua Hesketh]]
* 2017 [[Michael Davies (programmer)|Michael Davies]] and [[Michael Still]] (joint winners)
* 2015 [[Steve Walsh (programmer)|Steve Walsh]]
* 2014 [[Andrew Tridgell]]
* 2013 [[Donna Benjamin]]
* 2012 [[Mary Gardiner]]<ref name="stilgherrian">{{cite web | author=Stilgherrian | year=2012 | title=Linux.conf.au 2012: cyborg lawyer demands source | work=Girt by Code | publisher=TechRepublic | url=http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/australia/linuxconfau-2012-cyborg-lawyer-demands-source/577 | accessdate=30 January 2012}}</ref>
* 2007 [[Kimberlee Weatherall]]
* 2006 [[Pia Waugh]]
* 2005 [[Rusty Russell]]

The Rusty Wrench award was not awarded between 2008 and 2011. It was awarded again at [[linux.conf.au]] 2012 based on nominations from the free software and open source communities.

== See also ==
*[[AUUG]], the Australian Unix systems User Group
*[[Open Source Industry Australia]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* Main Site http://www.linux.org.au/
* Linux Conference Australia http://linux.conf.au/
* Planet Linux Australia https://planet.luv.asn.au/
* Linux Australia Mirror Project http://mirror.linux.org.au

[[Category:Linux user groups]]
[[Category:Non-profit organisations based in New South Wales]]
[[Category:Internet in Australia]]