Many thanks to the Northo for hosting the second Psychology Discussion Group. 15 U3A members settled into cozy couches and did what we do best … chat. This was the first time new members had an opportunity to chat (the first session focused on psychological concepts and was very structured), and it was heartening to see how easily topics were raised and diverse thoughts shared and considered.

The groups role is to raise topics for discussion. The convener links discussions with psychological theories, research, ethical considerations etc.

Here is an example of that rhythm:

One discussion caught the groups attention - the Benalla Fawkner Drive re-development concept, survey design, and the impact of the survey participant upper age range being “50+years”. The group agreed that this upper age designation potentially ignored lifetime developmental phases and an older person's approach to problems, goals, and situations.
This observation was supported by Erikson’s Theory that “older adults develop a “comprehensive sense of wisdom” by renewing earlier stages of development and developing mature forms of the psychological achievements they that they made throughout the life course”.
Ref - https://www.healthline.com/health/parenting/erikson-stages .

As the hubbub of hotel activity continued around us, a customer approached the group to say how much she had enjoyed listening to our discussion, how impressed she was at the variety of shared conversations and offered us some of her thoughts on a concept known as the “15 Minute City”. These links will give you an idea of the direction that conversation took us over the coffee break.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/feb/16/15-minute-city-planning-theory-conspiracists  
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-02-27/the-15-minute-city-conspiracy/102015446

Join us if this piques your interest .. and you still have space in your 2023 diary. Contact the convenor on 0437 621 575.

The next Psychology Discussion Group will be held:

Date/time:       20 April 2:00-4:00 pm
Location:         Ruby Blue Café – 67 Nunn Street, Benalla.                                                                            
Please note the change of location.

Jane Rushworth

Meeting at the wonderful Northo has been a tradition for this group - and we have been well cared for by Jeff, Phillipa, Woodsie, Mel and staff  .  

The group environment was designed in 2022 for a smaller number of participants. The 2023 "up-size" warrants a review that takes into account budgets for monthly room hire, background noise, venue access etc, etc, etc (more "etc"s as we mature!!). 

I've taken the liberty of changing the venue for the next meeting. The aim is for us to have a comparison for further discussions about our "etc"s. Time will be allocated at the end of the gathering for these discussions.

The next meeting will be held:
Date/time: 20 April 2:00-4:00 pm
Location: Ruby Blue Café – 67 Nunn Street, Benalla. 
Room Cost: None.
Refreshments:  Extensive selection available at own cost. 
Toilets: On-site or public toilets in Denny Street care park.

Options for Access to “Ruby Blue Café” via :
1.  Nunn St Entrance – advise staff that you are joining the U3A meeting in the back room. Head to the door at the back of  the café, into a small hallway, then proceed straight ahead through the next door to our room.

2.  Laneway entrance - The lane way is on the left side of the cafe. From Nunn St, the first door down the laneway on the right is the door to the small hallway mentioned above. Once in the small hallway, enter the door on your left to get to our room.

3  Back yard of Ruby Blue Cafe via Denny Street car park -  From the perspective of the Denny Street car park behind you, and with the back wall of Ruby Blue Cafe in front of you, there is a brick pathway down the left side of the building. This pathway will take you to an entrance. Once through the door, our room will be on your left.

I hope I have not wasted Mrs. Bucci's time. Mrs. Bucci was my fabulous grade 5 maths teacher. One day she gave the class the task of writing instructions for "How to tie a shoe-lace" (last century and pre-velcro era). We then paired up with a class-mate who tested the instructions. I did alright. I do hope the access options work :).


Jane
Jane Rushworth