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'Coves what's had the experience, they knows yer see'

30/7/2016

 
At our July café catchup Pat Treleaven described how the Wheeler Centre and the  Australian Writers' Centre inspire her to write, reading us her intriguing response to the Australian Writers’ Centre’s  ‘23 words’ Winter Solstice challenge to write a story using just 23 words, including the words winter, silhouette and writer!   
 
‘Advice’ – our topic for July – was presented at both our café catchup and regular sessions.  Advice such as ‘Courtesy costs you nothing’; ‘Don’t learn to milk the cow or it will be your task for life.  Leave that task for the boys’; ‘Coves what’s had the experience, they knows yer see’; ‘Our children survive in spite of us, not because of us’ and  ‘Don’t mix your drinks’,  provided fertile ground for reminiscing and story telling. 
 
The topic for our next session 'What happened in (eg) Vegas' (working title) has been set by ABC Open’s Shepparton producer, Will Kendrew, who is hoping to take part.  The brief – Spill the beans on something from one of your holidays, something that just doesn’t happen in every day life.  Look at photo albums, emails, letters, even Facebook, for reminders of holidays and the events that happened on them, then describe one of those holiday moments in detail. 
 
The ABC Open topic for August 'Experiences of the Unexplained' will be our alternative topic, or topic to share at the café catch up.  The brief - Have you ever had a brush with the spiritual world, a stay in a haunted house, a moment of psychic synergy? Make us shiver in our boots with your story of an otherworldly encounter. Tell us the story as it happened and how you see it now.  
Our next Café Catchup is Monday 1st August 2.30 to 3.30 pm or so by the fire at the Northo; regular session Monday 15th August  from  1.30 to 3.30 in W4.  
​

Our August topic 'What happened in Vegas'... (working title)

17/7/2016

 
We are in the final stages of negotiations to enable ABC Open's Shepparton producer, Will Kendrew, to attend our August 15th session.  Will has set the following 500 word challenge for us to write and will lead a session in which we listen to each other’s works in progress, make suggestions and edit.  Will is hopeful that before 3.30 pm some if not all of us will have, or be ready to have, uploaded 500 words (give or take 300) to the ABC Open and U3A websites.

Topic 'What happened in Vegas' (working title)  

Spill the beans on something from one of your holidays, something that just doesn’t happen in every day life.

Ideas that could help to get you moving along – look at photo albums, emails, letters, even Facebook – get yourself reminders of holidays and the events that happened on them, then describe one of those holiday moments in detail. 

Alternative 500 word topic/s -  the alternative topic for today or for the next Cafe Catchup will be ABC Open's regular 500 words topic for August - 'Experiences of the Unexplained' - Have you ever had a brush with the spiritual world, a stay in a haunted house, a moment of psychic synergy? Make us shiver in our boots with your story of an otherworldly encounter. Tell us the story as it happened, and how you see it now.  If this doesn't appeal and you haven't already shared them, bring along ‘The Year that Made Me’; or ‘Desert Island discs’ – describe five pieces of music you would like to have with you if you found yourself alone on a desert island and why.

Cafe catchup – (optional).   Our next cafe catch up will be on the 1st Monday in August (1st August) from 2.30 to 3.30 pm by the fire at 'The Northo'.  Bring along 'Experiences of the Unexplained' (see above); ‘alternative topic’ stories; unshared stories (eg. if you wrote two versions of one topic); stories from missed sessions; and/or writing of your own you would like to share/discuss. 

Australian Writing Centre's '23 words' project

11/7/2016

 
Could you write a story using just 23 words?

Could you write this story and include the words, winter, silhouette and writer?
Here’s one to get you started:

She writes
In rooms of
Limited
Heat.
Outside,
Upturned umbrellas epitomise winter.
Every winter
This writer
Thinks,
Electricity bills should be paid!
 
Head over to Australian Writers’ Centre, www.writerscentre.com.au/ to read some more winter/equinox stories and story writing ideas.
 
23 words?

Pat Treleaven


Pat introduced the Australian Writers' Centre and read out some of the 23 words entries  at our Cafe meeting at the Northo, 4th July.  Pat also recommended The Wheeler Centre as a wonderful source of inspiration for writers.  

500 words - from 'Faking It' in June, to 'Advice' in July...

4/7/2016

 
​At our June café catch up we welcomed Pat, who shared a beautifully written, moving story on the upcoming topic ‘Advice’; shared individual writing projects and brainstormed ideas on responding to June’s topic, ‘Faking It’, for class two weeks later.
 
Like another tricky topic ‘A Friendship Tested’, ‘Faking it’ resulted in a thought provoking session as we dissected the meaning of the phrase and speculated as to whether a degree of faking, or ‘fudging’, is necessary to smooth the workings of society, our working lives, family life and friendships.  We heard stories of faking it when listening to people at election time with different political values; of faking it to disguise emotional reactions during a nursing career; stories from two of our aviators of ‘fudging’ (if not faking) it related to flying an aircraft, and more. 
 
Our topic for July 18th 1.30 to 3.30 pm is ‘Advice’ - Tell us about one piece of advice that’s stuck with you.  It could be a famous quote or proverb, something your mum told you, or helpful words from a stranger.  Did you follow the advice, or wished you had?  Did it help or lead you astray? 
 
Our next café catch up, on Monday July 4th between 2.30 and 3.30 pm, will be at the Northo, as Somewhere has closed for a winter recess.  
 
    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 ...
    Picture
    "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 

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    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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    '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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