U3A Benalla

Pickleball update - next session Monday 10 November, 10 am!

3/11/2025

Update 3 November - A well attended first session today is to be followed by weekly sessions finishing in mid December! Next session, Monday 10 November at 10am - playing from 10 to 11, with a chat over tea and coffee to follow if you are able to stay on.

Original Email - 29 October - Join our new weekly Pickleball sessions - Monday 3 November! U3A Benalla has been looking into running 'Pickleball' for some months, and is now inviting interested members to come along on Monday 3rd November at 10am to try out our new equipment and the courts we will be using at the Benalla Indoor Recreation Centre in Ackerly Avenue... we'd love to see you there! Contact Jan - 0421 679 115.

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'Getting More From Your Photos', Wednesday Oct 29, 1 to 4 pm

17/10/2025

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Upcoming ‘Digital Projects’ workshop

Getting More from Your Photos
Wednesday, 29 October 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM * U3A Room 1
Presenter – Melissa Antony, Community Business Connect

Whether you want to preserve memories, clean up your photo collection, or just feel more comfortable with digital images, this session is for you. No special skills needed — just bring along your smartphone or similar, a few favourite pictures taken on it, and leave inspired!

What You’ll Explore
• Take Better Photos Learn about lighting, composition & perspective to make your snapshots shine.
• Edit with Confidence Crop, colour adjust, apply filters, and use simple AI tools to improve your shots.
• Use & Share Your Photos Resize and insert into emails, documents, posts; attach images easily.
• Cloud Storage & Backups Understand OneDrive, Google Photos, iCloud; keep your photos organised and safe.
• Creative Ideas & Inspiration Be introduced to options like calendars, photo books, and more—see what’s possible and gain confidence to try them.

Interested? Please call or text Ruth Jelliff on 0437 904 554 to book your spot.

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October's Meet and Mingle - 'The New Aged Care Act'

5/10/2025

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Vale - Janet Gourley

29/9/2025

A member of U3A Benalla for 18 years, a founding member of Collectors and long-term member of Garden Appreciation and Patchwork and Craft, Janet Gourley passed away recently at Wangaratta Hospital following a short illness.

Janet was born in Benalla, loved school and flourished at Benalla East Primary, winning the Mabel Mann Annual Prize in 1958. Janet dreamt of becoming a Domestic Science teacher, however poor subject advice made this difficult at the time.

With persistence, Janet completed her matriculation through night school and correspondence, then went on to earn a Bachelor of Health Administration and later a Graduate Diploma in Labour Management Relations. Janet’s working life began at Benalla Hospital in 1965, and by 1974 she was Manager/Secretary at Kilmore Hospital, overseeing much-needed redevelopment. Later, as Deputy CEO of Eastern Suburbs Geriatric Society, she contributed to the successful move from Ringwood to Burwood East, taking on many leadership roles before retiring in 2002 and returning to Benalla to care for her mother.

A foundation member and first Treasurer of Rose City Probus, Janet was an active member of the Benalla Croquet Club for many years.

Janet was the newsletter correspondent for the U3A Benalla Collectors group, filing her last report on 26 August, just over a month ago. Her reports and photographs were looked forward to each month by the media team and newsletter readers.

Apart from maintaining her lovely garden, Janet’s other love was music and the stage shows which she attended on a regular basis, both activities giving her great pleasure throughout her life.

Janet is remembered particularly for her kindness to other U3A members, for whom she often provided lifts to classes and activities when they became unable to drive. We will miss her.

Program News - Planning for 2026

31/8/2025

As you’ll notice in this newsletter, changes are underway for some courses, with a new name - ‘Easy Bushwalking’ - replacing Bushwalking – Easy Walks – now in place. Meetings are also being held with Mon Boyd from the Benalla Indoor Recreation Centre, as we have already had nine or ten expressions of interest for Pickleball!

Our Program Committee will shortly be meeting in earnest to plan the program for 2026, so I’m keen to hear your suggestions for new courses. It’s also time for convenors to decide whether to continue offering their course next year or perhaps take a break; suggest a name change or put in a bid for a different time/venue change in the timetable.

‘Now is the time’ if you have an idea for a course you’d like to convene or co-convene; have heard of a course at another U3A which sounds interesting or have an idea for a course you’d like us to offer. There’s a downloadable Program Proposal form on the Program Ideas page on the website which may be helpful in pulling together your ideas.

An avid traveller (or travellers) could perhaps offer ‘Armchair Traveller’ now the Covid hiatus has passed. A look at archives of past courses on the website could give you some ideas, and we have access to course resources from U3A Network Victoria and ABC Online which can help you to get started.

For more information contact me on 0438 447 379, email [email protected].

Anne Nelson, Course Coordinator

Recycling tips - 'What goes where at the Seniors and Community Centre... and what not to leave in the kitchen!'

28/8/2025

Wastewise Benalla is a small group within Benalla Sustainable Future Group working to reduce waste going to our landfill.

Many thanks to all the wonderful recyclers supporting us by using the filing cabinet in the foyer at the Seniors and Community Centre. We are reducing Benalla's landfill and helping some very worthwhile causes.

Please refrain from leaving recycling in the Kitchen (apart from the usual stuff for the Council recycling bin). For example:

Glass jars can go straight to the Op shops - don't bring them to the Seniors.

Plastic lids from milk bottles etc (please see the sheet on the bin for accepted lids) go in the yellow recycling bin (as clearly labeled) in the carpark at the rear of Rambling Rose.

Plastic/metal blister packs for medication go to the Chemist Warehouse or Marsha Watson pharmacy if you are a client.

All metal blister packs (kept whole) can go straight into your own yellow recycling bin.

If you are on Facebook there is a new recycling hint every week on Wastewise Benalla's Facebook page.

Kay Blore
Convenor,
WasteWise Benalla

In the Ensign - 'U3A Benalla & the Woodies Nail It!"

13/8/2025

Another informative contribution to the Ensign this month from our Publicity Officer, Doug Smith!

Doug also instigated a delightful article in the same edition about his 103-year-old neighbour, Georgina ‘Ena’ Gardiner, noting that Ena helped to establish U3A in Cranbourne in 2005. Ena has high praise for the benefits the U3A organisation provides to those over 55 and retired members of the local community.

Thank you, Doug.

Thank you, Alejandro and Peter!

7/8/2025

During July, President Margaret Jenkins thanked Spanish teacher Alejandro Diaz and Vice-President Anne Nelson thanked Exploring Writing Children’s Books convenor Peter Thompson, for their preparedness to teach courses at U3A and their enthusiasm when doing so. Both were presented with a celebratory U3A pen

Spanish convenor Alejandro Diaz with Margaret Jenkins and class members
at his final session on July 26

Exploring Writing Children’s Books convenor Peter Thompson with Anne Nelson

Rose City Probus Bus Trip to ‘CATS’ on January 14, 2026

7/8/2025

The Benalla Rose City Probus group is organising a bus to see the show CATS on the January 14, 2026, and extend an invitation to all U3A Benalla members to join with them to see this show. Further information is available by contacting the Probus Activity Officer, Pamela O’Connor, on 0409 223 974

Program News - 'Apple Refresher Course'

17/7/2025

If you have an Apple iPhone or an Apple iPad and would like to feel more confident using either of these devices we are offering a four session refresher course.

We will go over some basics and each week explore different apps on your device.

Wifi vs mobile data
Settings
Using the Calendar
Notes Messages and Emails
Money (Bills and Buying)

The sessions will go for one hour with flexibility to extend another half an
hour for troubleshooting individual problems.
Bring:

Apple Device
Apple Username (your email) and Password
Pen and Paper

Apple Refresher 1:30 - 2:30pm
Friday 1st August
Friday 8th August
Friday 5th September
Friday 12th September

To enrol -
Sign up sheet outside U3A Room OR contact the Course Co-ordinator Anne Nelson on 0438 447 379

Digital Upskilling Short Course Slide Presentatons #2 and #3

11/7/2025

Session 2

Session 3

Melissa Antony

Building Security - new procedures for members and convenors

11/7/2025

General Members

All members are to enter and exit via the front sliding doors.
Currently the side door is not automatically locking when closing as it should.
When the locks are fixed members will be able to exit via the side door, however should always check it has locked properly, as can close slowly and may pause before securing.

U3A Convenors (also committee and tech support members with keys)

Convenors and other keyholders can enter and leave the building by either the front sliding doors or the side door.
The side door should automatically lock when closed.
If using the side door to enter, make sure it is pulled close and locks.
If the front sliding doors are not open when you arrive for class, switch them to AUTO to allow entry to members.
At the end of your session, if no other group is using the auditorium:
- Switch the front door to LOCK.
- Exit by pressing the green button near the door.
If exiting via the side door, always check it has locked properly, as it currently closes slowly and may pause before securing.
If your group is the only one in the building, consider switching the front door to LOCK after allowing a reasonable time for members to arrive.
If you are the only one in the building, switch the front door to LOCK and check that the side door has securely closed after the last person exits.
As is the usual practice for classroom doors – always lock them after you if no one is waiting to enter.

*Please note - these procedures could firm up further over the coming weeks. Watch this space!

Digital Upskilling Short Course

3/7/2025

The Digital Upskilling Short Course is well underway, with participants describing enjoying and learning so much from the sessions with Melissa and Jackie. The final session is on Friday 11 July at 1.30 pm in Rm 1.

Program Update and Suggestions

3/7/2025

Although most people won’t be affected, the Membership Application, Course Guide and Full Timetable have been updated by Len Jeffers for Semester 2 and are now available on the Join Us page of the website.

While there are no new courses on offer at the moment, there are some other options to be aware of in the broader U3A community. If you're looking for something new you could, for instance:

Explore nearby U3As: Other U3As in our region—like Beechworth, Wangaratta, and Goulburn Valley (Shepparton)—offer interesting courses. Some of their members attend our groups as associate members. Associate membership fees are usually lower than full annual fees and vary between U3As.
Try U3A Online: A wide range of online courses is available through U3A Online.
Visit U3A Network Victoria: Browse online courses from other U3As across Victoria on the Network Victoria website.

If you would like to convene a new course, jot your ideas down on the Program Proposal form on the Program Ideas page of the website to assist when discussing your ideas with our Course Coordinator, Anne Nelson (M: 0438 447 379 | E: [email protected]). Anne will pass your idea to the Program Committee for consideration.

Vale Frank Dunin

3/7/2025

Frank Dunin, a U3A Benalla member for eleven years, loyal Garden Team member and passionate advocate for a Sustainable Future, passed away in Melbourne recently.

A former CSIRO scientist and acclaimed AFL Richmond football player, Frank was a force of nature who engaged for over a decade in discussions about a Sustainable Future with classmates including John Lloyd, Jim Casey, Arthur Ford, Brian Howard, Kathy Costello John Lane and others. Frank understood issues impacting on agriculture and the environment in considerable depth and was always keen to explain the intricacies involved with class members.

An active member of Garden Team, Frank is remembered for being generous with his time, enjoying being with people and having a chat, and “for bringing along his hedge trimmer to make order out of chaos”.

When John Lloyd moved away from the area at the end of 2021, Frank took on co-convenorship of Sustainability with John Lane, something he had hoped, but was unable, to continue after he and Val moved to Melbourne to be closer to their children.

We send our condolences to Frank’s wife Val and his family and friends.

'Pickleball' - Expressions of Interest from members welcome!

1/7/2025

Course Coordinator Anne Nelson is currently following up adding Pickleball to our program and would like to receive Expressions of Interest from interested members.

Pickleball is increasingly appearing among U3A programs across Australia! To give you an idea about it - the photos are from the Pickleball event held at the Benalla Indoor Recreation Centre in Benalla in June 2023 - Victorian and NSW Teams were competing in in the 'Battle of the Borders'. (It was held in Benalla due to renovations being completed at the WISAC in Wangaratta).

Pickleball is played either indoors or outdoors as singles or doubles, including mixed doubles. It’s played on a court similar in size and markings to a badminton court, but players often use an actual badminton court or mark out pickleball lines on a tennis court. It would be flexible when numbers drop in winter as can work in groups of 4, 8, 12 for doubles, or 2, 4, 6 etc for singles.

Interested in finding out more (perhaps even helping a group to be offered in the program)?
https://usapickleball.org/what-is-pickleball/
https://www.u3a.org.uk/learning/subjects/pickleball
https://u3asunshine.org.au/newweb/pickleball-outdoors-tuesday/
Rules of Pickleball - https://youtu.be/4vHhZ03O0PI

If you are interested in joining a Pickleball Group, feel free to phone Anne on 0438 447 379 with your interest.

Program News - Keen to find out about Walking Football?

11/6/2025

Semester 2 is fast approaching and at this stage we are not introducing any new courses. However, we have had suggestions of Walking Football ‘and/or’ Pickleball which would probably be played at the Indoor Rec Centre. We are interested to know how many of our members would consider joining Walking Football or Pickleball. Please contact Anne Nelson on 0438 447 379 if you would like to know more about Walking Football or Pickleball. Keen to find out more about Walking Football? ...

Other U3A's are offering Walking Football - Highlights from the incredible Walking Football Tournament we hosted during Men's Health Week, alongside U3A Melbourne City, City of Whittlesea & Football Australia.

There's an active group in V/ictoria - Walking Football for Health Victoria - which has a website (https://wf4hvictoria.org.au/) and is on Facebook( https://www.facebook.com/groups/wf4healthvictoria/)

From a men's health perspective, this video discusses the benefits of walking football for older men and introduces the development of Walking Football in conjunction with the Men's Shed Movement in Ireland: -

VALE Lorraine Knox

31/5/2025

Lorraine Knox passed away on Friday 23 May while in hospital in Melbourne. She had been in ill health for some time.

Lorraine worked as a driving instructor for many years teaching Benalla people to drive, there are numerous locals grateful for her patience.

Before moving into Benalla, Lorraine and Henry lived in the Swanpool area where Lorraine became a member of Swanpool CWA, making many friends there.

On their move into Benalla Lorraine joined U3A. In her usual way, Lorraine became an active committee member, being Secretary from 2006 until 2016, remaining on the committee as our Well Being Officer until 2024, and in 2020 taking over as Convenor of Chat n’ Chew from Shirley Kearney. Before COVID and Zoom meetings, Lorraine accompanied Geraldine and Dorothy on many cross-country trips to U3A Regional meetings, enjoying the company and friendship of U3A members far and wide.

Lorraine was a keen member of our Patchwork and Craft group, assisting and encouraging participants in many skills that she was an expert in.

Above all, Lorraine was a very proud and loving mother, grandmother and great grandmother. Her family and her many friends, especially the coffee group, will miss her smile and friendship.

VALE Patsy Bollard

31/5/2025

Patsy Bollard, who passed away on 8th May 2025, had been involved with U3A Benalla for 19 years.

Patsy was one of a group of 12 who participated in the first Singing group of U3A Benalla in 2006. Since then, Patsy was a regular at Singing and really enjoyed the activity. She had a great memory and could effortlessly recall the third verse of “Galway Bay” and many other extra verses of songs, some of which were not in the song books.

In recognition of the association that Patsy had with the Singing Group, the family requested that the Singing Group perform three songs at Patsy’s Memorial Service held on 20 May 2025 at the Uniting Church in Benalla.

Patsy also actively participated in other U3A Benalla groups including Play Reading, Let’s Talk Books, Collectors and Cards ‘500’. Her excellent memory, her wit and the great friendship she had with many people will be remembered for a long time.

Digital Upskilling Short Course - Updated information

26/5/2025

Information for participants - The Sign Up/Registration/First Session is now being held of the afternoon of 30th May instead of the morning advertised previously.

'Digital Upskilling' Short Course - Commences Friday 30 May

22/5/2025

Digital Upskilling - Short Course - Download Flier

May 19 to 25 is National Volunteers Week in Victoria!

19/5/2025

Thank you to all those who volunteer in some way for U3A Benalla–our Convenors (at least 35) and Committee of Management members immediately spring to mind, however there are so many more.

From members who provide technical support, take photographs, help to set up rooms and equipment, bring along cakes and slices for special occasions to those who stay behind to make sure the kitchen is tidy after tea breaks, and more.

Tech Support volunteer Graeme Greed is pictured here during a problem solving break.

Thank you so much to all our volunteers!

Tech Support Volunteer Graeme Greed

Life Memberships - Len Jeffers and Geraldine McCorkell

1/5/2025

Life Memberships were awarded to Geraldine McCorkell and Len Jeffers at the 2025 AGM in March. Thank you both for the enormous contribution you have made to U3A Benalla!

Program News - Convenors' Afternoon Tea

3/4/2025

On Friday 14 March a meeting of Convenors was held. I am pleased to report that it was a very successful meeting, with lots of input and ideas floating between the participants. Thank you to all those who attended. There were a few people I had not met before, so it was great to get to know them and vice versa.

Without the Convenors we would not have a U3A. There were some interesting discussions amongst the group. I liked the fact that everyone joined in with their thoughts and ideas. I am sure a lot of convenors went home with new ideas and am looking forward to our next get together.

Anne Nelson
Course Coordinator
0438 447 379 email [email protected]

Vale Carole Marple

31/3/2025

Carole Marple, a member of U3A Benalla for 15 years, passed away on Friday, January 31 2025. Carole had been living at Estia Health as an independent resident for several years, driving herself to U3A for her beloved classes in ‘Politics and Current Affairs’, the ‘History’ course of the day, and ‘Music Appreciation’, never missing a beat! Carole is quite possibly still watching the ‘Politics and Current Affairs’ class from on high, suggesting points of clarification when considered appropriate.

Carole co-convened the ‘Art Appreciation’ program at the Benalla Art Gallery with her husband Godfrey for several years. Carole also worked with friend Joan Laing in piloting a new course ‘Hot Topics’, in Semester 2 2018.

A founding class member of ‘Stock and Land’, Carole presented a memorable session reflecting on her role as Shadow Minister for Agriculture from 1993 - 1996.

Carole after speaker to Stock and Land group in July 2018, with Godfrey, David and Brent

Also a founding class member of ‘As Time Goes By’ (Memoir Writing), Carole’s Stories, written between 2015 and 2017, from stories about her childhood, including her father proclaiming ‘get back on’ when teaching her to ride, to her life as a unionist ‘I Was There – on the Picket Line’. In ‘My Other Life’, Carole reflects on her role as a speechmaker, from speeches at school, to speeches as a politician, and later on to speeches to Benalla Council in the battle to get a new Library for Benalla.

A beautiful 'Vale for Carole Marple' written by Jaclyn Symes, State Member for Northern Victoria, appeared in the Ensign on Wednesday February 19. Rest In Peace, Carole.

Source: Benalla Ensign, February 19, 2025 p 12

<<Previous

Pickleball update - next session Monday 10 November, 10 am!

'Getting More From Your Photos', Wednesday Oct 29, 1 to 4 pm

October's Meet and Mingle - 'The New Aged Care Act'

Vale - Janet Gourley

Program News - Planning for 2026

Recycling tips - 'What goes where at the Seniors and Community Centre... and what not to leave in the kitchen!'

In the Ensign - 'U3A Benalla & the Woodies Nail It!"

Thank you, Alejandro and Peter!

Rose City Probus Bus Trip to ‘CATS’ on January 14, 2026

Program News - 'Apple Refresher Course'

Digital Upskilling Short Course Slide Presentatons #2 and #3

Building Security - new procedures for members and convenors

Digital Upskilling Short Course

Program Update and Suggestions

Vale Frank Dunin

'Pickleball' - Expressions of Interest from members welcome!

Program News - Keen to find out about Walking Football?

VALE Lorraine Knox

VALE Patsy Bollard

Digital Upskilling Short Course - Updated information

'Digital Upskilling' Short Course - Commences Friday 30 May

May 19 to 25 is National Volunteers Week in Victoria!

Life Memberships - Len Jeffers and Geraldine McCorkell

Program News - Convenors' Afternoon Tea

Vale Carole Marple

News update

What's On Calendar

Contributions

Course Suggestions

Local News Links

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