U3A Benalla and District Inc.
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May - 'Winging It, then Taking the Plunge', 'Anzac Day' and more

26/5/2020

 
'As Time Goes By' provides an outlet and support for members keen to write about their lives and to tell stories their families may not get around to asking them about.  A number of group members are continuing to write stories for their 'portfolio' during the break, sharing stories with one another online through the website each month. 
This month Betty contributed a poem for the newsletter and her web page written in response to  'COVID-19',   Barry and Margaret reflected on Anzac Day, while Joy, Elizabeth, Ray, Bev and Marg wrote about 'Winging It' or 'Taking the Plunge'.  Stories due in late May for 'Turning Point' and a catch up story by Marg Nelson for February's topic 'Something I'm Proud Of' have already been submitted.  

Our topic for Monday 22 June is 'I Grew Up In...' - an open ended chance to reminisce about our childhood from all sorts of interesting angles.  Email stories to [email protected].  

Beverley Lee

Our 'Making Waves' stories are now available on line!

6/5/2020

 
We’re underway with our social distancing project, sharing stories written on monthly topics on the website.  They are added first under a password for class members to read and comment on, then made available to all visitors to the website and added to each writer’s page on ‘Our Stories’. 

Seven ‘Making Waves’ stories (our topic for March) are now available to all visitors to our web page.  I really enjoyed reading these stories - an underlying theme was the anxiety involved and resilience required to 'make waves' and the reinforcement of personal integrity which can result.  

April’s topics ‘Anzac Day’ and ‘Taking a risk and winging it’ or ‘Taking the plunge’ are currently being added under password for class members to read and comment briefly upon.  Here are some triggers to use when writing comments -  
  • Did you relate to the story? Did you empathise with the writer?  
  • Did the story trigger memories for you?  Perhaps with an example or two.
  • How did you react to the story?   How did it make you feel? 
The topic for May is 'Turning Point'  - an example from Life Matters’ '500 words' (click on link)...Leaving London on the Brink of War.  This will be followed in June by ‘I grew up in ….’ – a topic we hope will act as prompt for creative exploration of lots of childhood memories. 

Remember, if the monthly topic doesn't work for you, you can always draw from your 'Ideas Piggy Bank' or little book of 'triggers'....(choose two elements from either of these sources and write a story of about 250 words or so on each) or write on a universal topic such as 'The year that made me'; 'New in Town'; or 'Someone who Shaped me'. 

Please give me a call on 5762 8171 or 0478 607 838 if you have any questions.  New members welcome!

Bev Lee
    Our Stories
    Our Stories - by Topic

    'As Time Goes By' - Memoir Writing

    A memoir captures a meaningful slice of life—a memory, a lesson, or an experience that stands out.

    In our sessions, members come together to share short, reflective stories (up to 500 words) inspired by a new theme each month.

    As Time Goes By is not a writing skills class, nor is it about creating a full autobiography.

    ​It’s a space for those who want to record the stories that future generations might never think to ask about—a place to remember and share treasured moments in a welcoming, supportive environment with others who are also telling their stories.

    Convenor & Contact details

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    Beverley Lee
    0478 607 838
    Thank you to our outgoing Newsletter Correspondent - Graham Jensen ...
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    "Thank you Graham for writing such wonderful reports of our sessions over the past two years!"

    Meeting Times

    3rd Monday 2 - 4 pm
    ​U3A Meeting Room

    Resources

    2025 ATGB - Course Introduction
    'As Time Goes By' Topic List for 2025 
    'Tips for Writing your 500 Words Story' (ABC Open)  
    Writing a story in 500 words - approaching the topics 'Failure'  and 'Heart Break'    (ABC Open)
    Memoir Review - Frameworks for Analysis
    Master list of  500 word story topics from 2015 to end of 2020
    Icebreakers - List from inception in 2021 to end 2023 (PDF)

    Links

    Australian Writers' Centre

    Victorian Writers' Centre - Writers' Victoria

    ​Wheeler Centre

    The Memoir Writing Club - On Line Courses

    Past topics 

    All
    2018 Topic List
    '23 Words'
    'A Friendship Tested' //
    'AI'
    'A Love Letter To Travel'
    'As Time Goes By'
    'A Turning Point'
    Australian Writers Centre
    'Car Stories' //
    ChatGPT
    Course Description
    'Easter'
    'Experiences Of The Unexplained'
    'Fish Out Of Water'
    'For Better For Worse' //
    'Good Vibrations'
    'Grandparents' //
    'Heartbreak'
    'Home Libraries'
    'I Broke It'
    'Ideas Piggy Bank'
    'If Only'
    'I Quit!' //
    Life Matters 'Life In 500 Words'
    'Lost And Found' //
    Making Comments
    'Making Waves'
    'My Gap Year'
    'My (Life Event)'
    'My Other Life'
    'New In Town'
    'One Moment
    Orientation To ATGB
    Right Here
    Right Now
    'Stand Up Comedy'
    'The (Season) I ...'
    This ... Life
    This Year'
    'What Happened In Vegas'

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    New members...
    ​Joan's Stories
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    '1945'
We acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we meet and pay our respects to their elders - past, present and emerging.
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U3A Benalla & District Flier 2025
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Semester 1 Program Guide 2025
Semester 1 Timetable with Dates 2025
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​Photographs - U3A members; Benalla Art Gallery website; ​Weebly 'Free' images;Travel Victoria and State Library of Victoria
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