On Friday 20 March Max Powell and other organisers of Lifeball decided that Lifeball would not go ahead as from Monday 23rd March - with an interim return date set for Monday 20 April (the Monday after the Easter break).  This will be reviewed and confirmed closer to the date.

With changes in regulations changing rapidly, just a day later, on Saturday 21st March, the Executive of U3A's Committee of Management announced the cancellation of all courses and activities until the end of Semester 1, when the decision will be reviewed.    

This video of U3A Benalla Life ball players in action was taken five or so years ago, however it is a wonderful way of finding out a little more about Lifeball and deciding whether you might give it a try!   Come along to the Indoor Recreation Centre, Ackerley Avenue on Mondays between 9.45 to 11.30 pm, including most public holidays such as Labour Day.  For more information contact Convenor Max Powell on 0423 525 565.

​The Lifeball members are having our Xmas Dinner on the 9th December at the Benalla Golf Club.

We have in the last two weeks picked up two new members, which brings our membership to over twenty three. All are welcome at Lifeball which is played at the Benalla Recreational Centre every Monday at 9.45 am.

Our last game for the Xmas break will be on the 16th December and our first game back will be on the 13th January.

Max Powell

Benalla Lifeball recently had a Fun and Friendship Day--as the pictures show we had an excellent day.  Thirty people turned up from the North East of Victoria and southern NSW.  We had a great time and the food was delicious.

We will also be going to the Wangaratta Fun and Friendship Day in October.

Max Powell    
Ph 0423525565    
maxgp68@gmail.com

Lifeball is coming back to life, literally, now the weather is improving, and people are returning from holidays elsewhere.  This morning we actually had 13 players.....that hasn’t happened for some time, as we ended up playing with as few as 8 on several occasions.  Playing half court is taxing, but very funny, so having a full team was just great today, and everyone commented on having a really good time.

We have a Fun and Friendship day coming up in October, at Wangaratta, which will be beaut. We mix with other players from Albury, Deniliquin, Rutherglen, and Myrtleford, and the more we play away, the wider our circle of friends expand.  And the lunch our host teams provide is always wonderful, so it all makes for an excellent day away.

If you want to check us out for yourself, come to the Benalla Indoor Recreation Centre at 9.45am on Mondays and find out why we love our game so much!!

Marg Merriman

Lifeball numbers have been down somewhat recently.  People have been ill (me included), or are travelling to where the climate is more accommodating, so we have been playing half court....a bit more like “keeping off” really, with hilarious results.  It is such good fun, and a real workout.  It could be that with half a court, the game would be simpler - not so - it requires more energy and thinking more cleverly to achieve any result at all.  So by cuppa time, everyone is pleased to have a break.  It is such a stimulating game, and such good fun, whether the whole court is utilised, or just half, it doesn’t matter.  It is always such fun, and we all love it!!
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Marg Merriman

Lifeball continues on its merry way, and we are building towards our annual Fun and Friendship Day, on May 27.  Our visiting teams will be coming from Deniliquin, Albury, Wangaratta, Rutherglen, Myrtleford, Mansfield and us.  Eildon would have been invited as well, but unfortunately they have folded, which is sad.  But when people make the effort to keep things rolling along nicely, and there is no cooperation from the team, I guess folding is the only option, and makes me very sad.

We thought we could possibly change the name from Lifeball to Laughball, because the games has us all laughing at the most inopportune times!!!

And we will be able to christen our brand new tops, with thanks to Max Powell, who organised them on  our behalf.  They are rather smart, and we think we will look super in our new regalia!!

Why don’t you come and see us playing, any Monday at the Indoor Recreation Centre, at 10am. It is such an easy game, as running will be penalised, as will bouncing the ball, and the rules are all to reward safety on the court!!

Great fun!!  Talk to Marg, on 5762 2967 or 0438 509 121, or Max 0423 525 565, or Gerry.

Marg Merriman

Lifeball has been somewhat “heated” recently, such that it has been necessary to turn on air conditioning to help us cope with the continuing heat!

Our teams haven’t had full numbers either, but because we are so adaptable that is all fine, and we cope with flying colours.  There are contingencies for dealing with smaller numbers, so it makes the game so much easier to play.

We still play at 10am, after a recent discussion as to whether we would change times, so the status quo was acceptable to just about everyone.  Our beloved Val has returned from Sth Africa (again!!!!) and has lost none of her infectious enthusiasm, which makes us all laugh all the time!  If only she  would try to throw more goals!!
 
We have been invited to a Fun and  Friendship day at Albury on May 1, which will be beaut, as Albury hasn’t hosted one for the past two years.  And we are hosting our own Day on May 27, and invitations will be sent to Deniliquin, Albury, Rutherglen, Wangaratta, Mansfield, Eildon, Myrtleford, and of course, ourselves, so probably around 50 people will attend!!  It takes much organisation, but we have an extremely co-operative group of players, who help whenever and wherever they are needed, so the day always works like clockwork.

If you want to know more, contact me at  - margaret.merriman@yahoo.com.au  or 03 5762 2967 and I will gladly sell us to you, or come along every Monday morning at 10am to watch (and even play) if you wish, at the stadium!  

Extra dates - Wednesday May 1 - Albury Fun and Friendship Day at the Lauren Jackson Stadium in Albury, admission $7 as usual.

Monday 27th May, our own Fun and Friendship Day, at the Benalla Indoor Recreation Centre in Ackerly Avenue.  More details later.

​Margaret Merriman

Although the weather was very hot in January, February has been a  lot kinder for playing Lifeball.  I would still like to see a few more new members and I am looking at a couple of options to try to make this happen.  If there is anyone who would like to try Lifeball, come to the Indoor Recreation Centre any Monday morning at 10.00am (we are no longer starting at 9.30am) and have a go.  Basically if you can walk, you can play Lifeball.  On a positive note, our members are still very much enjoying playing the game and enjoying the social aspect this brings.  Marg Merriman is missing in action with a knee problem at the moment and she is hoping to return to the game sooner rather than later.
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Marlene Pitts

This is the possibly our last newsletter for the year, seeing Christmas is on our doorstep.
We have changed our start time during the summer weather to 9.30am, probably only till Easter, because the hall becomes too uncomfortable for playing.

So - to everyone who plays, or hopes to play at some stage - we begin at 9.30am!!

We complete our year with our breakup game on December 10, followed by lunch at the Golf Club.  If partners wish to attend, they will be required to pay the cost of the meal, but numbers have to be finalised very soon.

Our games will recommence, after a Christmas recess, on January 14, again at 9.30 am.  This is because so many players are eager to resume as early as possible, and don’t wish to have an extended holiday break.  Which is wonderful, of course, and shows the level of commitment to our great game!  

We had a beaut time when we played recently in Rutherglen.  Both Colleen and Brian were there, and we were delighted they could make the effort, as Colleen is battling cancer, and is undergoing treatment for that, while Brian is trying ever so hard to overcome his knee problems, and possibly will never play again.  But he has not lost his power of speech or sense of humour and will be available to assist with umpiring training if needed.  We certainly send them both our love and prayers for better health in the New Year, so they can continue working with Lifeballers all over the place, as they have done so selflessly during past years.

So, we look forward to 2019, still wondering where 2018 went!..........
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Marg Merriman   5762 2967