Nina Meiers shares how she gets the best of both worlds.

Pictured: Nina and her mother

About one hundred and thirty kilometres outside of Melbourne, nestled at the base of the Strathbogie Ranges is the tiny rural town of Barjarg.

Boasting a population of just 189, Barjarg is hardly the place you might automatically consider as a high-tech hubspot, but this town is home to true ‘GranTechie’ Nina Meiers.

Aged in her fifties and a proud grandmother of five, Nina has an eclectic existence as both a farmer and a web developer. Her web development business manages over 100 client websites and hosts hundreds of email accounts.

Nina’s business mission is to ‘Simplify the Web’ for her clients by creating websites and delivering clear instructions that help them in growing their online presence.

With a genuine passion for technology, Nina provides experience and strategic insights into the best practices of business websites.

As for the idea that someone in their fifties might not be web savvy, Nina is living proof that this is anything but the case.

“I may be a grandma of five, however I am able to out ‘tech-talk’ my grandkids who are in their twenties!” exclaims Nina.

“If you think I only use the internet for Facebook, think again. I use multiple servers and infrastructures to look after my clients, who have 120 websites between them.”

Nina enjoys a great lifestyle in the country, making the most of her service over the nbn™ network to take care of her online business as well as the requirements of her farm.

“I can manage everything remotely from my farm shed,”* shares Nina, “It was one of the main reasons I felt confident to move to a rural area.”

The internet isn’t a luxury for Nina, but a necessity. “Living on a farm means the nbn™ network is essential for my livelihood,” she explains.

“I can manage my online business while keeping an eye on the chooks. Plus, fast broadband also allows me to keep up to date with the latest international farming technology trends via the internet and podcasts. There’s no limit to what you can achieve.”

Despite being located in a tiny regional centre, Nina is able to be instantly connected with clients and suppliers in Australia and around the world.

“Fast broadband means I am able to speak with my overseas contractors in America, Europe and the Philippines, as if we are sitting at a table in the same room, having a coffee.

"I have even met some of my best friends on the internet and have visited them more than once in the US,” she says.

Nina definitely isn’t rare amongst her generation when it comes to taking advantage of the internet.

“I have definitely noticed a huge increase in the amount of people my age using the internet, more than I would have ever anticipated.” she explains.

“Almost everyone is using technology, whether it’s their smartphone or social media (platforms) like Facebook.”

Nina sees the internet as “a great resource for people to not only connect with their friends and family, but also keep up-to-date with current affairs”.

Using the internet isn’t something that is limited to Nina, her peers and her grandchildren.

“At 76 my Mum is one of the most well-connected people I know. She absolutely blows me away each time I speak with her about what she’s up to with her computer. She is all about the latest and greatest in technology constantly trying new things,” says Nina.

She goes on to explain that her mother is “an avid card creator and loves the world of crafts.”

Nina’s mother is able to use the internet to connect with people all over the world to share ideas. “In her opinion, the internet is the best way to keep her mind stimulated and gives her purpose in life, something that’s crucial as you get older.”

Being connected to the nbn™ network means Nina can seamlessly blend her outdoorsy lifestyle with her high-tech skill set, managing two very different businesses from her tiny piece of paradise in regional Victoria.

More and more grandparents are turning to technology. Read about how, in research commissioned by nbn, up to 90 per cent of grandparents admitted to jumping online at least once per day.

*End-user experience, including the speeds actually achieved over the nbn™ network, depends on the technology over which services are delivered to your premises and some factors outside nbn’s control like equipment quality, software, broadband plans, signal reception and how your service provider designs its network.