Linux Australia

Linux Australia is an Australian community organisation representing people and groups interested in Free and Open Source Software (FOSS), including Linux and other Unix-like operating systems. It operates as a national, membership-based community body rather than as a commercial software vendor. Its role is to connect Australian developers, system administrators, users, advocates, local Linux User Groups and related open-source communities, while providing organisational infrastructure for activities that are difficult for informal volunteer groups to manage independently. The organisation was established in 1997 by Terry Dawson and Gary Allpike. Its early institutional purpose was closely connected to the first Conference of Australian Linux Users, an event that later developed into linux.conf.au. Linux Australia was formally incorporated in New South Wales in 1999 as a non-profit organisation, providing a legal and administrative framework for conference operations and other community activities. The incorporation marked an important transition from an informal network into a durable national organisation. Its best-known activity is linux.conf.au, an annual open-source conference that has served as a major meeting point for Australian and international contributors, maintainers, educators, advocates and technology users. Through the conference and related events, Linux Australia supports technical talks, community networking, project collaboration and public discussion of free-software issues. The organisation has also participated in conferences, exhibitions and other public events, helping introduce open-source technologies and development practices to broader technical and professional audiences. Linux Australia also administers a grants program intended to seed or support relevant open-source projects. These grants reflect the organisation's community-development role: funding is used to help volunteer-led or community-benefiting work progress, rather than to commercialise a proprietary product portfolio. Its wider activities have included maintaining community resources, supporting local groups and operating or supporting infrastructure such as the Linux Australia mirror project and related online services. Advocacy is another part of its remit. Linux Australia has communicated with government and corporate stakeholders on open-source policy and technology issues and has provided comment or opinion to the media. Its public-interest orientation places emphasis on software freedom, open standards, collaborative development, technical education and the sustainability of volunteer communities. Governance is conducted through an executive council elected annually by the membership. Membership is open to people who support the organisation's objectives, and office holders can therefore change from year to year. The organisation's historical leadership includes community figures such as Terry Dawson, Anand Kumria, Pia Smith, Jonathan Oxer, Stewart Smith, John Ferlito, Joshua Hesketh, Hugh Blemings, Kathy Reid, Sae Ra Germaine and Joel Addison. Several prominent Australian open-source contributors have also served on its committees, including Andrew Tridgell, Paul Russell and Mary Gardiner. Linux Australia recognises service to the Australian free-software community through the Rusty Wrench award, presented at linux.conf.au from 2005 in honour of its first recipient, Rusty Russell. The award has recognised contributors including Rusty Russell, Pia Waugh, Mary Gardiner, Andrew Tridgell, Donna Benjamin, Joshua Hesketh, Jonathan Oxer, Ryan Verner and Dave Lane. Overall, Linux Australia functions as community infrastructure: it supports events, people, projects, advocacy and shared resources across Australia's FOSS ecosystem rather than selling a single branded product.

Linux Australia emerged in 1997 as a national association for Australia's Linux and broader Free and Open Source Software communities. It was co-founded by Terry Dawson and Gary Allpike. The organisation's early development was linked to the need for a formal body capable of supporting the first Conference of Australian Linux Users, an event that became linux.conf.au. Linux Australia was formally incorporated in New South Wales in 1999 as a nonprofit organisation, giving the volunteer community a legal entity through which it could organise events, manage funds and enter arrangements with partners. Over time, Linux Australia expanded beyond conference administration. It developed into a national representative and support organisation for local Linux User Groups and related FOSS communities. Its activities came to include the annual linux.conf.au conference, grants for open-source projects, participation in public technology events and maintenance or support of community resources. The organisation also established a public voice on open-source matters, engaging with government and corporate stakeholders and offering media commentary on issues affecting free software, open standards and collaborative technology development. The organisation's governance has remained membership-based. An executive council is elected democratically by members each year, so leadership changes periodically rather than being concentrated in a permanent executive structure. Its presidents have included Terry Dawson, Anand Kumria, Pia Smith, Jonathan Oxer, Stewart Smith, John Ferlito, Joshua Hesketh, Hugh Blemings, Kathy Reid, Sae Ra Germaine and Joel Addison. Other notable committee participants have included Andrew Tridgell, associated with Samba; Paul Russell, known for work on the Linux kernel and Netfilter; and Mary Gardiner, who founded the Ada Initiative. linux.conf.au became the organisation's most visible public program and a significant gathering for open-source contributors and users. Alongside the conference, Linux Australia has supported project development through grants and community recognition through the Rusty Wrench award. The award was introduced at linux.conf.au in 2005 and named after its first recipient, Rusty Russell. It has honoured people for service to the Australian free-software community, with recipients including Pia Waugh, Mary Gardiner, Andrew Tridgell, Donna Benjamin, Joshua Hesketh, Jonathan Oxer, Ryan Verner and Dave Lane. The award was not presented from 2008 through 2011, then returned in 2012. Linux Australia's historical role is therefore best understood as community infrastructure rather than product manufacturing. It provides continuity for volunteer communities, creates venues for technical exchange, helps fund open-source work, maintains selected online resources and represents FOSS interests in public discussion. Its annual elections and open membership allow the organisation's priorities and leadership to evolve with the Australian open-source ecosystem.

• 2012

  Rusty Wrench award resumed

  [1]Linux Australiaen.wikipedia.org

  After a period without presentations from 2008 to 2011, the award returned based on nominations from the free-software and open-source communities.

• 2005

  Rusty Wrench award introduced

  [1]Linux Australiaen.wikipedia.org

  Linux Australia began presenting the Rusty Wrench award at linux.conf.au to recognise service to Australia's free-software community.

• 1999

  Formal incorporation in New South Wales

  [1]Linux Australiaen.wikipedia.org

  Linux Australia was incorporated as a nonprofit organisation, providing legal and administrative support for conferences and other community activities.

• 1997

  Linux Australia founded

  [1]Linux Australiaen.wikipedia.org

  Terry Dawson and Gary Allpike co-founded Linux Australia as a national community organisation for Linux and related Free and Open Source Software communities.

A national, member-led nonprofit platform for Australia's Free and Open Source Software communities, combining event organisation, project support, advocacy, awards and shared technical infrastructure.

• Conference

  linux.conf.au

  Linux Australia's annual open-source conference and its most prominent public program. It brings together developers, maintainers, administrators, users, advocates and educators for technical presentations, community discussions and networking. The event originated as the Conference of Australian Linux Users and has provided a recurring national forum for collaboration across Linux and wider FOSS communities.

• Community funding

  Linux Australia grants program

  A grant-making program intended to seed or support projects relevant to the Australian open-source community. It extends Linux Australia's role beyond events by helping volunteer-led or community-benefiting initiatives obtain resources for development and delivery.

• Community award · 2005

  Rusty Wrench award

  An annual recognition presented at linux.conf.au for service to Australia's free-software community. Named after inaugural recipient Rusty Russell, the award has recognised contributors from technical, organisational, advocacy and community backgrounds.

• Technical infrastructure

  Linux Australia Mirror Project

  A community-oriented mirror service associated with Linux Australia, intended to provide access to open-source software and related project resources. It reflects the organisation's historical role in supporting shared technical infrastructure for Australian users.

1. 1Linux Australiaen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Linux Australia official websitelinux.org.au