Tucked in the shadow and downdraft of the Rimutakas, dumping ground for the excessive moisture of the Kapiti Coast, on the north shore of Lake Wairarapa, lies the small, blink-and-miss village of Featherston.

I arrived here about a year ago in a round about sort of way from Wellington, via Napier, Sydney, New York and Venice Beach California. When I heard it said that Featherston was for those people who are totally over themselves, I smiled. It took me 58 years to get over the Hill, hopefully not quite as long to get over myself.

And, after all my big city living, I feel no sense of isolation at all in a country that is, by it’s very geographic, political and social nature, totally isolated, for now I have a link to all that is local and all that is global, now I have: www.facebook.com/featherston.wairarapa.

Yes. . . Facebook has come to Featherston!

There is now a community web page of 357 members and it’s growing at an amazing rate with comments such as:

• “Hey nice page! And thanks Shara for organising the Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra to do a workshop in Featherston. It was a hoot! We’ll be strumming til the cows come home.”

• “I have found this to be a great way of spreading information about the Community Centre without spamming everyone...it’s up to the individual to decide if they want to look at the Featherston events.”

Started in September 2009 it has given the community a voice that is quite extraordinary and way beyond what the local council has achieved in years of trying. Mind you it is council members who are now amongst the most vocal contributors. “If you can’t beat em, join em”, is an old maxim.

Facebook is a social networking web site, the face of the present and future state of WWW technology. It will grow. It will connect the dots to communities and to individuals as it has in my life. For small isolated communities this new technology is a life line. A source of news, ideas, connectedness for those who live here, for those who once lived here but have moved on, and a window for those who may consider Featherston in their future plans.

Also it takes into consideration the fact that there are many more technically savvy Featherston people than we give ourselves credit for. I like to think that the residents of Featherston are forward thinking and this site is a prime example of this.

Finally, I think its a great way of connecting with other Featherston residents... ”not everyone works around a routine mon-fri 9-5 schedule...it gives residents, young/old/new/established a neutral platform to communicate with others” Heather.

“I’m pretty new but I think it’s great!!! I can find out easily what’s on in town and also let other people know about exhibitions, workshops, markets, etc!!!” - Monica.

And so there it is, Featherston, from whoa to go in a very short period of time with its very own Featherston facebook page and a growing sense of self, is now connected through friends of friends of friends of friends, all over this planet!