Session 2
Session 3
Melissa Antony
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General Members
U3A Convenors (also committee and tech support members with keys)
*Please note - these procedures could firm up further over the coming weeks. Watch this space!  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.
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:
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. 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. 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. 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? ...
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. 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. 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.  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 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!
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] 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
Work on the new Benalla Station precinct will commence in June 2025. U3A Benalla had a presentation by Inland Rail concerning this project on Tuesday 4th March 2025 in Room 1. The information was presented by Adam Wiseman, Lead Engagement Advisor and Shannon Clark Stakeholder Engagement Advisor for Inland Rail. The Project Manager, Caitlyn Riley was also in attendance and answered some of the questions. Two boards with options for the landscaping and the lift shaft decoration design were available for people who attended to choose which option they favoured. A member of U3A Benalla pointed out to the presenters that the shadows were in the wrong direction on the majority of the slides, which was something that the presenters had not realised. U3A Benalla thank Inland Rail for their presentation. They are certainly trying to inform the Benalla community of the alterations that will happen. Margaret Jenkins "In Benalla, we’re modifying the station precinct to allow sufficient clearance for double-stacked freight trains. Community feedback has informed the design to relocate the track on the south side (Mackellar Street) to the north side of the station and remove the existing Benalla Station Approach Road overpass. The design includes a safer and more accessible pedestrian underpass with lifts, ramps and stairs, added carparking spaces and improved bus stop areas. For more information visit our website. This visualisation is an indicative representation and is for illustration purposes only. It should not be considered as the final design, which may be subject to change due to detailed design refinements." U3A Benalla are presenting to Councillors on Wednesday 2nd April 2025. Our aim is to get on the BRCC Council Plan 2025-2029 to increase our floorspace at Benalla Seniors Community Centre. We have been informed that our chances of getting on the Council Plan would be considerably strengthened if lots of members of U3A Benalla did the survey which is attached to the 2025-2029 Council Plan.
For U3A members to participate in this survey go to Benalla Rural City Council at benalla.vic.gov.au then Have Your Say then Council Plan 2025-2029 and fill in the survey. Takes 5 to 10 minutes. (if you were able to put in a link that would be great) Many thanks for your assistance. Margaret Jenkins President U3A Benalla and the Model Rules: How it affects Elected Positions and the Committee at the AGM
Last AGM U3A Benalla changed from having a constitution to using Model Rules for an Incorporated Association as set out by Consumer Affairs Victoria using the Associations Incorporation Reform Act 2012. There are 77 Regulations set out in these Model Rules. In these Model Rules it says that the Composition of the Committee shall consist of a President and a Vice-President and a Secretary and a Treasurer and up to 8 ordinary members of the Committee elected by the Members. In the old Constitution there was a position reserved on the Committee for the immediate Past President. There is no such position on the Committee in the Model Rules. There are certain members who have undertaken specific roles for the benefit of U3A Benalla, and it is beneficial for U3A Benalla for the people who are undertaking these specific roles to be on the Committee. Examples here are the Publicity Officer, the Membership Secretary, the Newsletter Editor and the Website Manager. Which leaves us with four elected members on the U3A Benalla Committee. In past years we have seen Committee members who have stayed on the Committee for 5 years or more. But times are changing. U3A Benalla last year had 420 members, and each of these members has the opportunity to nominate for either President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer or a committee position if they wish to do so. If current members of the Committee wish to nominate for the position of President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer or for the Committee, they have the right to do so. There are provisions if there are more nominations for President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer or for the Committee than there are positions available that elections can and will be held at the AGM. This is a healthy thing to happen for the benefit of U3A Benalla. If you wish to discuss any of the above, I can be contacted at 0424 454 313 or by email at [email protected]. Margaret Jenkins Members who selected Lifeball as a program for 2025 will be disappointed to hear that we are having to defer Lifeball until further notice due to the lack of a convenor. It will not commence on Monday 3rd March 2025.
We extend our apologies for the situation. On Enrolment Day we were hopeful that a Convenor would be found. However, no one has volunteered to be the Convenor of Lifeball, so unfortunately it cannot go ahead. U3A Program Committee. U3A Benalla are pleased to offer their members a meeting with Inland Rail on Tuesday 4th March 2025 at 10 am in Room 1 of the Benalla Seniors Community Centre.
Inland Rail are planning on commencing the Benalla Station Redevelopment in mid-2025 and wish to share their recent designs for the redevelopment with the Benalla community. The presentation team coming to U3A will include a member from John Holland, the contractor. The community is being invited to have their input on seating, landscaping, lift shaft decoration design and the position of the signal box. There will be ample time for questions. Please come along at 10 am on Tuesday 4 March, listen to the presentation and have your say. Margaret Jenkins Lost – Box of U3A Archived Files
Box of U3A Benalla files containing documentation between 2006 and 2024. Originally this was located in the cupboard opposite the kitchen. Could anyone who has any information concerning the whereabouts of the box please contact Margaret Jenkins on 0424 454 313. Position Vacant - Treasurer Due to the retirement of Corrie Witlox, Treasurer of U3A Benalla, there will be a vacancy on the Committee for a new Treasurer as from March 2025. Corrie has done an excellent job as Treasurer and is retiring due to having held the position for several years. Contact Margaret Jenkins for a job description – 0424 454 313. At the time of publication, U3A Benalla has 369 members, with more enrolments to come.
New courses Colour Mixing and Watercolour Techniques – Botanical, Mahjong, Come and Learn Croquet, Train Buffs and American History are all starting with more than 15 members. Car Torque, Exploring Writing Children’s Books and French at the Table are also well supported. We had 22 participants enrol for Mahjong which was fantastic. However, it was obvious that the group was not going to fit into Room 2. After consultation with Kay Blore, Mahjong is moving into the Auditorium and will commence at 11.15 am each Monday immediately after Exercises for Fun for 1 hour. Colour Mixing and Watercolour Techniques – Botanical also had more people wanting to enrol than was anticipated. Margaret Zaal has kindly offered to run two classes so that all the members who wanted to come to her group can. Both groups will be on the second and fourth Wednesdays, with the 10am group being in the Auditorium whilst the group commencing at 1pm until 3pm will be in Room 2 on the second Wednesday and Room 1 on the fourth Wednesday. In recent group updates, Spanish is now commencing on Saturday 8 February – we do apologise if the change of class time and date caused problems for some new class members. French at the Table with Carole Ruta is now commencing on Saturday 1 March. A reminder also that Birdwatching, Bushwalking – Easy Walks and Lifeball commence in March, and that Birdwatching and Photography usually take a break during June, July and August. Convenors are encouraged to contact Anne Nelson, Course Co-ordinator, on 0438 447 379 or email [email protected], if they need any support. The Centre at Wangaratta is looking for participants for the Aged Care Volunteer Visitors scheme. This program brings volunteers together with elderly people in their homes or in care facilities to develop friendships that can be rewarding and valued.  Any U3A Benalla member who may be interested is asked to contact Emma Gerrett, Program Officer on 0429 295 475.
Margaret Jenkins Intergenerational activities at Benalla P-12 and FCJ College - an opportunity for U3A members26/1/2025
Tomorrow Today’s Education Benalla Program is delivering multiple programs to improve the wellbeing and educational outcomes of Benalla and district’s children and young people. They have written to U3A Benalla to gauge interest in running lunchtime activities on a regular basis at Benalla P-12 College and FCJ College. There would be benefits for both cohorts from intergenerational mixing.
Lunchtime activities have been successfully run at Daylesford College. You will see a list of the types of clubs run here https://www.daylesfordsc.vic.edu.au/wellbeing/clubs-societies/. Any U3A members interested in being a part of this program are asked to contact Sally Matheson, Tomorrow Today’s Education Benalla Program Manager on 0409 967 303. Margaret Jenkins |
News updateThis page is for 'general' news - some will be 'just in' news notices of changes to timetables or news of meetings; other items will be celebratory, some will be sad, there will be some longer news items on topics of interest. What's On Calendar
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