2023 was a year of expansion for U3A Benalla. We went from 325 members at the end of 2022 to 403 members in October 2023, a 22% increase. This expansion was in part due to the seven new programs introduced in 2023. These programs included Ukes4Fun with Heather Wallace, Photography with Rene Martens, In the Lap of the Gods with John Barry, the Sky’s the Limit with Claire Rudolph, Enjoying the Internet with Dawn Stephens, the Jane Austen Book Group with Meg Dillon and the Wise Guys Book Group with David Palmer.
U3A Benalla is consistently offering our members over 45 courses to choose from each year. Each course is run by a Convenor who has a passion for the program they are involved with. My thanks to each Convenor for the time and effort they put into running their particular course. Convenors are the backbone of U3A Benalla.
U3A Benalla is consistently offering our members over 45 courses to choose from each year. Each course is run by a Convenor who has a passion for the program they are involved with. My thanks to each Convenor for the time and effort they put into running their particular course. Convenors are the backbone of U3A Benalla.
I would also like to thank the Committee for the support they have been to me during the past twelve months. This support is demonstrated not only by the valued input of Committee members at Committee meetings, but also by the backroom work all Committee members do in running this organisation.
In particular I would like to thank Geraldine McCorkell, who is retiring as Secretary after two terms, and Neville Gibb, who is retiring after two terms as Treasurer. I am pleased that both Geraldine and Neville have nominated as Committee members.
I would also like to thank Lorraine Knox who is retiring from the Committee this year, after many years of being a previous secretary, as well as many years on the Committee.
During 2023 the Committee commenced looking at Policies which applied to U3A Benalla. This had not been done for a number of years. The outline of these policies came from U3A Network. We also looked at completed policies from U3A Lakes Entrance who presented them in very readable form. So far, the Committee has examined and passed the Anti-Discrimination Policy, the Code of Conduct Policy, the Privacy Policy and the Grievance Policy. The Committee are continuing examining Policies, and will complete this project in 2024. The completed policies are available for members to inspect in the U3A Office.
Enrolment day in January 2024 was a huge success. My thanks to all Convenors who volunteered their time to inform new members about their courses. In 2023 we attracted 100 new members to U3A Benalla. So far this year we have 65 members who have joined U3A Benalla for the first time.
Following Enrolment Day this year we trialled opening the U3A Office each Wednesday morning in January and February so that those who were unable to come to Enrolment Day could enrol. Thank you to Ruth Jelliff, Rina Caddy, Julie McNeill, Geraldine McCorkell and Heather Wallace for opening the office. The opening of the office was well supported with many people wanting to chat about the groups they were choosing, and will be repeated next year.
Communication within U3A Benalla is very important. Our Newsletter and Website are vital parts of our communication. I would like to thank Heather Wallace and Bev Lee for the many hours they spend producing the Newsletter and updating the Website. Also, thank you to all those members who contribute photos for Bev and Heather to use.
One of the important aspects of being President is talking to other organisations about U3A Benalla. In 2023 I spoke to the Ladies Probus Club, the Benalla Rotary Club and the Group Conference of the CWA at Swan Pool. In August 2023, there was a 10-minute presentation to the Councillors of Benalla Rural City, which was followed by 35 minutes of questions from Councillors to both Geraldine and myself. I would like to acknowledge the assistance of Bev Lee in the preparation of the slides for these presentations.
In the early part of 2024, we have introduced another two courses to U3A Benalla. These are Chess and Cooking Solo. Both groups are going well. In early March 2024 we welcomed our 400th member of U3A Benalla for this year. In 2023 we reached that milestone in October, compared to March in 2024. The lady who was our 400th member is from Glenrowan, and has joined the Singing for Fun and Exercises for Fun. Increasingly we are finding that a number of members are coming from areas outside Benalla. We now have a member of our Wine Appreciation group from Albury, and our German group has a member from Beechworth. The number of Members attending each group appear to be increasing, which underlines our need for another room which could accommodate 40 to 45 members.
During 2023, at our presentation to Council it was suggested that we inspect the Supper Room of the Town Hall as a possible meeting room. Unfortunately, the supper room of the Town Hall was not suitable. We have also enquired about the availability of a room at the Australian Christian College in Sydney Road, but have been told that these buildings are being decommissioned. So, we have not solved where we can find a large meeting room. We are hoping that Councillors will include funds for a room to accommodate 40 to 45 people in their Budget in 2024.
During 2023 we promoted the idea of changing the name for this building to the Benalla Seniors and Community Centre, which we felt was more inclusive of U3A Benalla, the Benalla Bridge Club and the Benalla Social Dancing Group as well as the Benalla Senior Citizens Club. We included this idea in our presentation to Council in August 2023, and the Councillors appeared to be receptive to our idea. The suggestion has been through the Public Feedback stage, and we look forward to Council making a decision regarding the name change of this building in the near future.
In particular I would like to thank Geraldine McCorkell, who is retiring as Secretary after two terms, and Neville Gibb, who is retiring after two terms as Treasurer. I am pleased that both Geraldine and Neville have nominated as Committee members.
I would also like to thank Lorraine Knox who is retiring from the Committee this year, after many years of being a previous secretary, as well as many years on the Committee.
During 2023 the Committee commenced looking at Policies which applied to U3A Benalla. This had not been done for a number of years. The outline of these policies came from U3A Network. We also looked at completed policies from U3A Lakes Entrance who presented them in very readable form. So far, the Committee has examined and passed the Anti-Discrimination Policy, the Code of Conduct Policy, the Privacy Policy and the Grievance Policy. The Committee are continuing examining Policies, and will complete this project in 2024. The completed policies are available for members to inspect in the U3A Office.
Enrolment day in January 2024 was a huge success. My thanks to all Convenors who volunteered their time to inform new members about their courses. In 2023 we attracted 100 new members to U3A Benalla. So far this year we have 65 members who have joined U3A Benalla for the first time.
Following Enrolment Day this year we trialled opening the U3A Office each Wednesday morning in January and February so that those who were unable to come to Enrolment Day could enrol. Thank you to Ruth Jelliff, Rina Caddy, Julie McNeill, Geraldine McCorkell and Heather Wallace for opening the office. The opening of the office was well supported with many people wanting to chat about the groups they were choosing, and will be repeated next year.
Communication within U3A Benalla is very important. Our Newsletter and Website are vital parts of our communication. I would like to thank Heather Wallace and Bev Lee for the many hours they spend producing the Newsletter and updating the Website. Also, thank you to all those members who contribute photos for Bev and Heather to use.
One of the important aspects of being President is talking to other organisations about U3A Benalla. In 2023 I spoke to the Ladies Probus Club, the Benalla Rotary Club and the Group Conference of the CWA at Swan Pool. In August 2023, there was a 10-minute presentation to the Councillors of Benalla Rural City, which was followed by 35 minutes of questions from Councillors to both Geraldine and myself. I would like to acknowledge the assistance of Bev Lee in the preparation of the slides for these presentations.
In the early part of 2024, we have introduced another two courses to U3A Benalla. These are Chess and Cooking Solo. Both groups are going well. In early March 2024 we welcomed our 400th member of U3A Benalla for this year. In 2023 we reached that milestone in October, compared to March in 2024. The lady who was our 400th member is from Glenrowan, and has joined the Singing for Fun and Exercises for Fun. Increasingly we are finding that a number of members are coming from areas outside Benalla. We now have a member of our Wine Appreciation group from Albury, and our German group has a member from Beechworth. The number of Members attending each group appear to be increasing, which underlines our need for another room which could accommodate 40 to 45 members.
During 2023, at our presentation to Council it was suggested that we inspect the Supper Room of the Town Hall as a possible meeting room. Unfortunately, the supper room of the Town Hall was not suitable. We have also enquired about the availability of a room at the Australian Christian College in Sydney Road, but have been told that these buildings are being decommissioned. So, we have not solved where we can find a large meeting room. We are hoping that Councillors will include funds for a room to accommodate 40 to 45 people in their Budget in 2024.
During 2023 we promoted the idea of changing the name for this building to the Benalla Seniors and Community Centre, which we felt was more inclusive of U3A Benalla, the Benalla Bridge Club and the Benalla Social Dancing Group as well as the Benalla Senior Citizens Club. We included this idea in our presentation to Council in August 2023, and the Councillors appeared to be receptive to our idea. The suggestion has been through the Public Feedback stage, and we look forward to Council making a decision regarding the name change of this building in the near future.
In conclusion, 2023 was a very successful year for U3A Benalla. We are a growing organisation providing courses which involve physical, mental and social interaction for 400 plus members of the mature community of Benalla. It has been a privilege to be your President for the past year.
Margaret Jenkins
Margaret Jenkins
