Our U3A
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With around 300 enthusiastic members and over forty activities on offer, U3A Benalla and District's volunteer office bearers, convenors and tutors develop and implement a range of satisfying, stimulating and healthy courses and activities for retirees.
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HistoryEstablished in 1988, Benalla and District U3A is the second largest U3A group in North East Victoria.
Following in the traditions of the worldwide U3A movement, Benalla and District's U3A is a voluntary community organisation. It provides opportunities for learning for Benalla's older people enabling them to keep mentally and physically active and alert. The term “University” is used in the original sense of an association or community of teachers and scholars united in the pursuit of knowledge. Unlike most other Universities, U3A does not involve exams! The “Third Age”, which follows the “First Age” of childhood and formal education and the “Second Age” of working life, is one of active retirement, where a wide range of interests are pursued to enhance the self-image and well-being of older persons. U3A courses and activities are run 'pro bono' by volunteer members of U3A. This reciprocity provides rich opportunities for the transmission of knowledge and skills which benefits members and tutors alike. In early July 2017 U3A Benalla and District moved from its home in W4 at the Benalla Flexible Learning Centre to its new meeting room at the Benalla Seniors Community Centre in Fawckner Drive. The entry to the U3A meeting room is by the side entrance of the centre. Documents |
Management and administrationThe Annual General Meeting of Benalla and District U3A is held every year in March. This year the Annual General Meeting was held on Wednesday 18th March 2020 in the U3A Meeting Room at the Benalla Senior Citizens Community Centre, 17 Fawckner Drive, Benalla at 10 am.
The Executive Committee of U3A Benalla and District meets monthly, making decisions and taking them to the rest of the group. Executive Committee meetings are held on the second Thursday from 1.30 to 3.30 pm in the U3A Meeting Room. There are several sub-committees of the Executive, including Administration; Finance; Computers and Technology; Equipment; Accommodation and Programs Regional meetings of 16 to 18 U3A groups spreading from Kilmore to Nathalia, Mansfield to Wodonga are usually held twice a year, often in Benalla. Gallery - including 2018 AGM; Opening of Upgrade to Seniors Community Centre; U3A Library Display Seniors Week 2017; U3A North East Regional meeting 2016Benalla U3A is an active member of U3A Network Victoria. Benalla delegate Geraldine McCorkell regularly attends meetings in Melbourne then reports back to the Executive Committee.
Benalla President Dorothy Webber maintains a close relationship with the Network by attending Regional Meetings. A two-day meeting was held in Benalla at BPACC in April 2019 and a one-day meeting was held In Seymour in September 2019. Dorothy and members of our committee attended - networking at these meetings is beneficial to Benalla U3A and all U3As across our region. Biennial conferences of the Network were held in Melbourne in 2015 and 2017. The 2015 conference theme related to information technology - you may like to read Bev Lee's notes from the 2015 conference. State U3A Networks have formed an national alliance to share common concerns, an alliance which may develop into a national peak body over time. State Networks have annual conferences which representatives from other states attend. There is also a U3A Asia Pacific International Alliance which has a regional conference of U3A--the most recent locally held conference was held in Brisbane in May 2015. (Link to conference presentations). |
