​​Because of the situation with the Corona virus and the latest spatial requirements, the Committee has decided to shut down Benalla U3A.

We will review this decision at the end of Semester 1. This  decision includes all off-site Groups.

We hope that when we resume you are all fit and healthy. Stay safe.
​
Dorothy Webber
President
21 March 2020

​Are you free on Sunday the 15th March 2020 at 1:30pm? If so, organize a group of family, friends, work colleagues or fellow Club Members because the Swanpool Country Women's Association are holding a Fundraiser for Fire Relief.
Come along, enjoy the beautiful Swanpool Hall and Cinema and have a laugh watching "Shaun the Sheep", knowing that the Funds raised will support the Benalla Uniting Church Emergency Fencing Team(northeast response) and Blaze
Aid, then enjoy a scrumptious CWA Afternoon Tea.
Tickets $15 adults/$5 children including a CWA afternoon tea
Raffle to be drawn at the conclusion of the film
1st Prize: 2 x Tickets General Admission Supercars Championship Winton 400 (June 4-7, 2020)
2nd Prize: Handmade Quilt
3rd Prize: Tupperware
4th Prize: Swanpool Store Hamper
Enquiries to Rosslyn Heaney 0400 682 261 Swanpool CWA

Pamela O'Connor

U3A Benalla's Annual General Meeting will be held at Meet & Mingle on Wednesday 18 March from 10am to 12 noon.  Give a thought to joining the Committee.  It is important to have new people with new ideas to keep our U3A growing in the future. 

​A nomination form for Executive and General Member positions is available for download below.  Completed forms are to be returned to the Secretary, U3A Benalla Inc. P O Box 674, Benalla, 3672 or RedB4 Bookshop (next to Hide’s Bakery) by Wednesday 11th March 2020. 

The Good Things Foundation have once again supported our Be Connected program with a grant. This will fund a Social Evening and Meal to be held on Wednesday February 26th following the Be Connected class. All members are welcome.

​Benalla U3A’s Summer School Program is now in its third year!  In December 2017, Dorothy Webber piloted a summer program with a session dedicated to Trivial Pursuit, and a second session ‘Morning Memories’ where stories and photographs were shared. In January 2019 by the first ‘Tech Savvy Be Connected’ summer school program was offered by Jenny Sawyer and Margaret Jenkins.  In 2020, three summer school activities are being held in the U3A meeting room over the January break: 
 
Community Singing                        Friday 10th, 17th and 24th January - 10.30am - 11.45am
Due to a kind offer by Brian Greed, Singing for Fun are running three Community Singing mornings in January.   Singing for Fun members and other members of U3A are invited to attend.  Each session will have a break for morning tea and is expected to finish about 11.45 am.   Contact: Margaret Jenkins 5762 6944
 
Patchwork                                                          Thursday 9th and 23rd January - 10am-4pm
The Patchwork Group is continuing its tradition of holding day long sessions in January, increasing the number this year from one to two.    Contact:  Dorothy Webber 5762 2116 or 0412 263 071
 
Tech Savvy Be Connected                       Tuesday 7th, 14th and 21st January – 10am-11am 
Whether or not you attended previous sessions last semester, you are welcome to bring your portable devices to our summer school to extend your computing knowledge and skills.
Contact:   Margaret Jenkins 5762 6944 Jenny Sawyer 0409 545 182
 
Life Ball                                              Recommences Monday 13th January  9.45 to 11.30am
Life Ball is also returning in mid-January at the Benalla Indoor Recreation Centre in Ackerly Avenue.  Weekly sessions recommence from Monday 13th January.   Contact:  Max Powell 0423 525 565

Congratulations to U3A member Pat Treleaven on winning the Open Section of Benalla Festival’s Writing Festival Competition for the second time.  Pat’s writing skills are evident in the delightful newsletter reports she writes for the Recorder Group each month.  

Pat is pictured here reading her 'Fiesta of Festivities' winning entry to a large audience at the Benalla Library during the Benalla Festival.

Congratulations, Pat.

There are summer school units, course tweaks, a name change, some developments of related courses and more in the new timetable - and of course, some new courses for your consideration!  For example...

A Different History of Germany
Neville Gibb
‘A Different History of Germany’, will range from the Hanoverian Monarchy to the present day.  We will have all kinds of diversions and will jump from century to century when required.  People should be prepared for lots of discussions.  Much new information is available on past events.
Later in the course we will concentrate on the German Democratic Republic.

'A Taste of Art'
Broken River Painters - course convenor Carole Perry
​Broken River Painters are offering this course to U3A members interested in taking up or renewing their interest in drawing and painting.  The course will operate as an art workshop in a relaxed atmosphere with mentoring and support from artists of the Broken River Painters.  No experience is necessary, however more experienced artists are welcome to enrol.  No materials or equipment are required, but feel free to bring along pencils, charcoal, paints and brushes for watercolour, oils and acrylics and pastels.  As Broken River Painters participate in many art shows and markets in the north-east, as well as exhibiting paintings in the Benalla Hospital, there is an opportunity to eventually exhibit work.

Coin Collectors
Alex Adkins
​People over the years have bags, boxes or tins of old coins of pre-decimal and decimal currency.  If this is an interest or hobby of yours and you would like to discuss the significance of coins and notes with different designs that commemorate the events and people that create a history of Australia, consider joining our new Coil Collectors group.  Meet others who have been putting coins aside and have not yet sorted or catalogued their collection.  Discuss, view, swap and/or buy coins to complete various sets.  We aim to get more enjoyment from our collections and look forward to seeing your coins and sharing stories.  As this is a lunchtime meeting, bring some nourishment along - tea and coffee will be available.

Demystifying Psychology
Jane Rushworth
​A five-session light-hearted course introducing psychology in everyday life and some of the theories that attempt to explain how and why we do things.  The course will include personality types and preferred coping styles; theories and practices applied to drug treatment, raising children, family violence, and other topics as suggested by participants.  The course will also include social psychology, the concepts of obedience, power, group dynamics and states of mind.  We'll then discuss how we experience the various theories as they play out in daily life.

German - Conversation
Janet Martens and Pauline Bailey
This informal group is suitable for those who attended German in 2019 and for those who already have an understanding of the language.  Fluent speakers are encouraged to join.

Tech Savvy Apple Devices - Intermediate
Jenny Sawyer
Tech Savvy Apple (Intermediate) is for people who have completed the Tech Savvy Beginners Course and wish to further their understanding and skills on their iPads.  The course content will in the main be driven by the participants; whereby they can suggest explorations of different functions they wish to learn about and master.

The News - Fact or Fiction?
​Brian Harker 
An adjunct to the Politics and Current Affairs course, ‘The News - Fact or Fiction’ provides a structured round table forum for selected stories and issues which are hitting the headlines which affect our lives and the society in which we live.  Sessions will include an analysis of the contents and letters pages of different media outlets to see how various issues have been reported by different organisations; discussion of one of these topics in more detail; and a pre-alerted topic to be explored.
​

Attention to all members with portable computing devices

• smart phones
• tablets
• iPads
• laptops

​During the summer break, there will be continuing Tech Savvy Be Connected sessions.

Whether or not you attended previous sessions last semester, you are welcome to bring
your portable devices to extend your computing knowledge and skills.

We are running three sessions in January on Tuesday mornings at the U3A room.
​
Dates - JANUARY Tuesday 7th, 14th, 21st Time - 10:00am - 11:00am

Margaret Jenkins Phone 5762 6944
Jenny Sawyer Phone 0409 545 182

This year's U3A Christmas breakup, held at the renovated Goorambat Hotel on Wenesday 27 November, was an enjoyable catchup for all of us. The loud buzz of conversation lulled for the duration of the meal: lamb roast and cheesecake, washed down with wine or beer.  

Benalla Bus Lines transported the group there and back, our obliging driver giving those who hadn't yet seen the local Church Mural and Silo Art a chance to enjoy them.  Paul, treasurer of the local Community Group, outlined the history of the successful planning and fundraising for the Silo Art and Church Mural.

Thanks Heather and Keith Rogers for arranging this event (and sorting out the wee hitches!), and to Dorothy Webber, our President, for another successful year, with 60 new U3A members joining.

Bev Thornell

​An important message for Members who are attending the Christmas Lunch,

Due to circumstances beyond our control, the bus to the Goorambat Railway Hotel is now leaving from the Benalla Bus Depot at 12.30pm for a 1.00pm lunch.

U3A Members who are driving their own cars, the lunch is now commencing at 1.00pm

We sent out an email with this message - if you know a person who is attending who is not confident with their email, could you please give them a call to make sure they know?  Thanks!

Media Team

​Writing in the September Newsletter that coin collecting has been an interest/hobby of mine for a long time, I invited anyone with a similar interest to contact me with the view of forming an interest group within U3A. Since then I have had a positive response and six of us met to discuss the possibilities on the 8th October. A Course Proposal was completed and submitted.  The Committee is quite happy for us to meet as a Coin Collecting Group and has given us the meeting time from 12.15 pm to 1.45 pm on the first Wednesday of each month at the U3A rooms.

The first meeting will be held on Wednesday 6th November with a second meeting following on 4th December.

I am pleased that some keen interest has been shown by people who have been putting coins aside and like me have not yet sorted or catalogued their collection.  I am looking forward to seeing your coins and sharing our stories.

As this is a lunchtime meeting, bring some nourishment along and tea and coffee will be available.   To register your interest or answer any queries please phone me, Alex Adkins, 0427 820 287, or come along on the day.

Alex Adkins

Helen Margaret Mitchell died on 17 October 2019, aged 89 years, following a long period of ill health. A service to celebrate the life and times of Helen was held at the Uniting Church, Benalla on Thursday, 24 October 2019. This celebration of Helen’s life was attended by foundation, early and current members of U3A Benalla.

Helen Mitchell was the inaugural U3A Benalla President in 1996 and held this position for 1997, continuing her involvement and interest in our U3A for almost two decades.  In 2002, she chaired the U3A Benalla Health and Well-being in Later Life seminar with the aim of working with allied health professionals and other organisations. Attended by 120 participants and service providers, the outcome resulted in extending the opportunity for members.  Successful ongoing U3A Benalla programs such as, Singing for Fun, with the initial sessions held in the Mitchell home, Lifeball and Easy Walks were added to the program.  U3A members were also invited to attend appropriate established programs at Community Health, Aquatic Centre and other groups.
​
Helen enriched the lives of her community with her diverse interests including ongoing education; public health issues; local government; music and the arts, holding several senior positions.

​U3A Benalla extends sympathy to Helen’s husband, Graham and to their family.   

​  

​Congratulations are in order to Rupe and Gwen Cheetham on their 60th Wedding Anniversary. What a milestone. Best wishes to a lovely couple.

It’s 'Taster Time'!  It is possible to attend many courses and activities during October and November as a 'taster'.  If  you know anyone who is thinking of joining U3A next year, please let them know about this. They need to speak with the convenor first & put their names of the roll on the day, but do not need to join until next year.

It's also the time when new course ideas floated during the year begin to firm up.  Keen coin collector Alex Adkins would like to gauge interest in organising an ongoing Coin Collectors group.  Other course ideas for 2020 include Hot Topics, first piloted in 2018; Pitman Shorthand for past users of Pitman Shorthand (this is being run very successfully at U3A Melbourne); an Art group in partnership with Broken River Painters at their studio in the Migrant Camp precinct; greater links between our Tech Savvy Family History Projects group and the Benalla Family Research Group and a  group which discusses current television series, such as Hand Maid's Tale; Poldark; Sea Change.  Hot off the press - a new course 'Demystifying Psychology' with Jane Rushworth!

Some courses have decided on a name change - with E-Books becoming ......; some courses are advertising for new convenors - Collectors and Chat n Chew -  and may go in to recess until one can be found. Courses only offered in Semester I may be reinstated.

Watch out for details of new programs to be offered in 2020 in upcoming newsletters and on the web site.    Please contact our Program Coordinator, Terry Case (0427 621 700)  if you have ideas for new courses or any other queries. ​

People over the years have bags, boxes or tins of old coins of pre decimal and decimal currency.  My interest started in the early 1960’s when Australia went to decimal currency in February 1966, and I am still collecting today.
 
If this is an interest or hobby of yours and you would like to discuss the significance of coins and notes with all their different designs that commemorate the events and people that create a history of Australia perhaps we could look at forming a group with U3A.

To gauge the interest in coin collecting could you please contact me, Alex Adkins on 576262457, Mobile 0427820287 with the view of having a meeting and organising an ongoing U3A Coin Collectors group. 

Alex Adkins

​How can we make Benalla Rural City a better place for older people to live in?  An invitation to help to develop the first ever Age Friendly Benalla Strategy and learn more about what has been learnt so far.  Wednesday 11 September 10.30am to 1 pm, Lakeside Community Centre. RSVP by Friday 30 August to council@benalla.vic.gov.au or phone 0357602600

​U3A Benalla welcomed thirty-four people to the BBQ held on Wednesday 3rd July to mark the beginning of the Be Connected course. Cooking for the BBQ was capably done by Benalla Lions Club in the carport near our U3A entrance. Those who came to the BBQ enjoyed sausages, beef or chicken hamburgers, fried onions with various sauces and cold slaw followed by tea or coffee and small cakes. Everyone settled in the U3A room to enjoy their lunch with plenty of chatter and a great atmosphere. We had Meg from the Benalla “Ensign” there with her camera, and a good report of the event appeared in the “Ensign” the following Wednesday.

The Be Connected course is being promoted by the Federal Government in an aim to get more senior Australians familiar with the Internet and doing things online. U3A Benalla applied for and received a Community Engagement Grant to hold the BBQ on 3rd July. The BBQ was to encourage not only U3A members but all people over 55 in Benalla to come and be part of the Be Connected program. 

U3A Benalla is conducting the Be Connected course using the overhead projector in our U3A room every Wednesday from 2pm to 4pm.  You can follow the progress of the course on the Tech Savvy Hands On - "Be Connected" page on this website. 

Margaret Jenkins ​

Saturday afternoon activity – Come and play the card game 500!

Many people have mentioned that they stay home on Saturdays and as they are not interested in sport often feel lonely.  Interest has been expressed in conducting an activity on Saturday afternoons in the U3a Rooms at the Senior Citizens building. 
   
It is proposed to play the card game 500 to kickstart this afternoon of fun.    It will be a social activity, commencing at 1.30pm to 3.30pm with afternoon tea provided. 
  
This activity will commence on 6th July and will be held each Saturday from that date onwards.    

​If you are interested in attending please contact Heather Wallace on 0418 353 244
​
Heather Wallace

Newcomers to U3A are likely to find 'like minded' people appear in a number of their groups. Noel Meagher, who passed away recently, was a member of the first classes I chose--Politics, Music Appreciation and Wine Appreciation--and later came along to Tech Savvy groups I taught, often accompanying Dorothy.  Noel was also a member for many years of the 'Investment' groups and worked alongside Keith and Heather Rogers to convene the Wine Appreciation program and the annual Christmas luncheon for many years. 

Memories of Noel are reflected in these photographs from U3A Benalla's website collection.  Taken from June 2014 to December, 2018 they feature Noel's interest areas of Investment, Music Appreciation, Politics, Wine Appreciation and Christmas lunches! 

Noel made me so welcome at U3A from the beginning.  A very intelligent and thoughtful 'life longer learner', he will be missed at U3A.   

Beverley Lee

​​Congratulations to our two new life members Joyce Borschmann & Vaughan Cowan who were presented with life membership badges at the Annual General Meeting on the 20th March this year.

​Joyce & her husband Bob started the Singing for Fun group and Joyce has been the convener from the start till last year. Over the years the singers have gone from strength to strength and have become one of the most popular groups.

​​Vaughan has likewise led the Bush Walking groups for 16 plus years.  It is always great to see the photos of smiling faces and wonderful scenery on our website and Facebook page.

Both Joyce and Vaughan started with U3A in 1996 & after U3A closed down took up their roles when U3A reformed in 2002.

Dorothy Webber 
​

See also:
Thank You - Vaughan Cowan
Thank You - Joyce Borschmann