At our first Meet and Mingle for 2025, President Margaret Jenkins presented an update on U3A activities including enrolments for 2025. The latest figures have reached 400 and are very likely to surpass the 2024 record of 420. This included 66 people registering for the first time. However, accommodation is very tight at the Benalla Seniors Community Centre. Investigations are underway to see if this can be improved.
Margaret said our membership is growing steadily, particularly with the offer this year of nine new courses including American History, Car Torque, Colour Mixing and Watercolour Techniques - Botanical, Come and Learn Croquet, Exploring Writing Children's Books, French at the Table, Mahjong and Train.
The Inland Rail Project will be visiting U3A on Tuesday 4th March at 10.00am to update members on the progress of the Project.
Margaret introduced Benalla Council visitors to the meeting who spoke about the upcoming 2026/2029 Strategic Council Plan and the L to P program.
Jane Archbold from Council and Ford Davis of 90 Mile Consulting spoke about encouraging input from the community on what they would like to include in the Council Plan. Jane said The Council Plan is the foundation for everything we do. It is our four-year roadmap for shaping the future of Benalla Rural City. This plan identifies key priorities across areas like community wellbeing, livability, economic growth, environmental sustainability, and strong leadership.
There was also much discussion on what had been achieved in the four-year life of the current plan. The session was very engaging with much audience input. Jane left a number of pamphlets and encouraged members to fill out a questionnaire either online or in hard copy.
Margaret said our membership is growing steadily, particularly with the offer this year of nine new courses including American History, Car Torque, Colour Mixing and Watercolour Techniques - Botanical, Come and Learn Croquet, Exploring Writing Children's Books, French at the Table, Mahjong and Train.
The Inland Rail Project will be visiting U3A on Tuesday 4th March at 10.00am to update members on the progress of the Project.
Margaret introduced Benalla Council visitors to the meeting who spoke about the upcoming 2026/2029 Strategic Council Plan and the L to P program.
Jane Archbold from Council and Ford Davis of 90 Mile Consulting spoke about encouraging input from the community on what they would like to include in the Council Plan. Jane said The Council Plan is the foundation for everything we do. It is our four-year roadmap for shaping the future of Benalla Rural City. This plan identifies key priorities across areas like community wellbeing, livability, economic growth, environmental sustainability, and strong leadership.
There was also much discussion on what had been achieved in the four-year life of the current plan. The session was very engaging with much audience input. Jane left a number of pamphlets and encouraged members to fill out a questionnaire either online or in hard copy.
Natalie Phillips and Yvonne Barrow from the Council spoke about their involvement in the L to P Program sponsored by TAC and managed by Benalla Council. Natalie said the Program had been running in Benalla for 15 years and allowed 230 people to receive a driving license. The Program has been very successful to date but relied on volunteer drivers to devote around 1 hour per week. There are currently 30 volunteer drivers, three L/P cars and a long waiting list of people wanting to join the Program to be able to get a license. One of our members spoke about the rewarding experience of being a volunteer driver for the Program. Natalie encouraged anyone interested to contact her at Council.
The next Meet and Mingle is on Wednesday 19th March and will include our AGM and guest speaker Bill Sykes who will talk on farming in Northern India.
Doug Smith
Acting Publicity Officer
Doug Smith
Acting Publicity Officer
