​Enrolment days were held at the Benalla Town Hall in January, however it is not too late to enrol.

New Members in 2021   Membership fees are $30 per person or $60 per couple with a newsletter e-mailed monthly.  There is a surcharge of $10 pa for newsletters sent by mail.  A  Membership Application/ Renewal Form can be downloaded from the Join Us page or collected with program documents from the RedB4 Bookshop in Bridge Street (next to Hide's Bakery).

Members who were enrolled in 2020:  Due to the disrupted 2020 and problems with 2021 accommodation,  Membership Fees for existing members have been suspended for 2021.  You will still pay a fee of $10 if you require a posted monthly newsletter.  An individualised Membership Renewal Form was emailed or posted to existing members.  Please print your form, make any corrections to your details, then add your program selections.   If you can’t locate your individualised form,  complete a regular Membership Form for 2021. 
 
Completing enrolments

• ​Post completed enrolment form, with any payment attached, to: U3A Benalla and District, PO Box 674, Benalla 3671
• Leave forms at RedB4 Bookshop in Bridge Street (next to Hide’s Bakery) with payment attached.
• Forms without payments can be scanned and emailed to Len Jeffers ([email protected]) or delivered to 108 Thomas St. Benalla.

Remember, late enquiries are always welcome. Enrolment documents can be downloaded from the Join Us page on this website during the year. Contact our Secretary Geraldine on 5762 2134 or 0408 522 662 or [email protected] for questions and further information. .

With renovations continuing at the Seniors Community Centre, Enrolment Days were held this year at the Benalla Town Hall.  Numbers were down in terms of attendance, however many enrolment forms had already been received via ReadB4 books; post, email or delivery to Len's home, 

​It was wonderful to chat to new and existing members who had questions, to catch up with other convenors and to hear updates from President, Dorothy Webber.  Although Covid-safe regulations meant that members couldn't mingle at morning tea this year, many members could be found catching up with friends at local cafes after enrolling.  

Bev Lee

The following most informative article was written for the Benalla Ensign by Margaret Jenkins for Age Friendly Benalla.  Margaret is also Research/Grants Officer on the U3A Benalla & District's Committee of Management. 

“Mr Dom Testoni, CEO of Benalla Rural City Council has announced that Benalla Rural City Council are spending $130,000 to upgrade of the interior of the Benalla Senior’s Centre located in Fawckner Drive Benalla. The funding is from two sources: namely Drought relief funds as well as Federal Government funding.

The Benalla Senior’s Centre is a multipurpose facility which houses activities of the Benalla Senior Citizens, the Benalla Bridge Club and U3A Benalla.

The entire air conditioning unit is being replaced with a new system which has environmentally friendly refrigerant gas. The air conditioning machinery will be in the same place and use the same duct work. The work is to be completed mid January 2021 and will cost $70,000.

The switch board at the Benalla Senior’s Centre is being converted with a backup generator system, so that if the power goes out, the Benalla Senior’s Centre can be used as a Refuge point for Benalla.

The switch board of the Benalla Town Hall is being similarly converted with a generator backup so that it also can be used as a Refuge when required.

Internally in the Benalla Senior’s Centre building there are a series of alterations planned with the Stage in the main auditorium to be removed. This will allow for the building of a new office for the Benalla Senior Citizens. An area adjacent to this will become storage for the bowling mats used by the Benalla Seniors.

The Benalla Bridge club is to have slightly increased storage as their area will incorporate the area occupied previously by the steps to the former stage as well as their current storage facility.
U3A Benalla have been offered the use of the former Benalla Senior’ Office as a second meeting room.

Upgrades to the main kitchen area will see a new dish washer and the incorporation of the stove from the other small kitchen.  It is anticipated that a standalone glass double fronted refrigerator will allow storage for all groups using the centre.

These internal upgrades are estimated to cost about $60,000. The builder for the project has been selected and expects that the internal work will be completed by Monday 8 February 2020.
U3A Benalla expects to resume classes on Monday 15 February 2020 in their current U3A room. 

Due to the building works, Registration Day for U3A Benalla will be held on Monday 18 January 2021 and Wednesday 20 January 2021 from 9.30am to 11.30am in the Benalla Town Hall.
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Further information regarding Registration Day can be obtained from Mrs Dorothy Webber on 5762 2116.”  ​

• Members when attending U3A Benalla groups, classes or functions  are required to keep 1.5 meters apart at all times.
• Members when attending U3A Benalla groups, classes or functions are required to be at a density of not more than 1 person per 2 square meters of floor space.
• Members when attending U3A Benalla groups, classes or functions are required to wear a face mask when indoors providing this is currently mandated by the Victorian State Government.
• Hand sanitizer is to be provided at the entrance to the U3A Benalla room and any other venue being used by U3A Benalla. Members of U3A Benalla are requested to use the hand sanitizer when entering the U3A room or other venue being used by U3A.  
• Hand wipes will be provided for Convenors or their assistants to wipe down furniture such as chairs, tables and door handles after each class held in the U3A Benalla room or other venue being used by U3A.  
• Attendance Records. An Attendance record for each class is to be located on the Table outside the U3A room or other venue being used by U3A. Every person entering the U3A room or other venue is to be ticked off on this attendance record. U3A Benalla will hold in another location the phone number and address of all members attending groups or classes.
• If a person is not currently enrolled for this particular group or class, they are to write their name and phone number legibly on the attendance sheet.
• Any member of U3A Benalla who is feeling unwell is asked not to attend a class or group to which they belong, but instead get tested for COVID 19 after phoning Benalla Health to make an appointment.
• Close contact of members in the U3A Benalla room or other venue being used by U3A is to be avoided due to COVID restrictions.   

​Dorothy Webber and Margaret Jenkins

Enrolment days will be held at Benalla Town Hall on Monday 18th January – 9.30am to 11.00am and Wednesday 20th January – 9.30am to 11.00am.      Due to the disruption of classes in 2020 during the Covid-19 Virus lockdown, the U3A Committee agreed that there will be no additional payment in 2021 for members who enrolled and paid in 2020.      However, if you received your Newsletter by mail, there will be a cost of $10 payable to cover cost of postage.
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New members enrolling in 2021 will pay the $30 fee, plus $10 to cover postage if they wish to receive the Newsletter by mail.
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Membership forms were e-mailed to existing members late last week.    Please check the enrolment form is correct to ensure that your details are current.      Put a cross against the classes you are interested in participating and return to U3A on enrolment days, RedB4 Bookshop or mail to U3A Benalla, P O Box 674, Benalla 3671.

Only enrol in preferred courses that you will be attending.    In the past members have ticked the box of a number of activities but only attended two or three during the semester.      Due to Co-vid restrictions on the number of people who can be in one room at the same time, there will be a limit on number of class participants.  Please ensure you do wish to do the course that you have ticked and make sure your completed enrolment forms are returned as soon as possible. If you change your mind about a course please let the convenor know so that someone on the waiting list can be contacted.  
 
Due to room availability some courses may not commence until halfway through February or the first week in March, or may be held in alternative locations.      Your Committee are working hard to ensure that you have the best venue for the number of participants in your activity.

Once enrolments have been received your Convenor will be in contact with you to confirm your enrolment and advise when the course will begin.  
 
Due to Covid restrictions there will be no serving of tea and coffee at Enrolment Day this year.    Bring your own bottle of water and make sure you are wearing a mask whilst in the Town Hall precinct. 
 
Attached to the January Newsletter and on the Join Us page of the web site you will find a blank Membership Application/Renewal Enrolment form, Program Guide, Full Timetable with Dates. 

The newly released U3A Benalla and District Covid-Safe Plan is included in he January Newsletter and in a post on this page.  Please read this plan carefully and comply with its requirements at all times.


Committee of Management