President’s Message

It’s hard to believe how very quickly we have arrived at Term 4. I am not hesitant to use the cliché “time flies when we’re having fun” because this is true at U3A Manningham.

While many places wind down towards the end of the year, our U3A, on the contrary, cranks up with many exciting activities to look forward to.

Artistic Showcase and UniFest

We are proud of our members’ contributions and achievements at any time of year, but particularly so at the end of the year when we celebrate our Artistic Showcase and UniFest. Both events will be held on Thursday 28 November this year.

The Artistic Showcase will proudly feature the outstanding skills of our members through a display of their art and craft work, and extensions of these. The exhibition of works will be open from 10 am to 3 pm. Our thanks to Showcase organisers Liew Staras and Graeme Martin and their support teams.

UniFest, on the same day from 12 pm to 4 pm, will showcase our members’ talents in the performing arts, through dancing, singing, fitness routines and more. Luncheon will be served in between the two events. Members, please remember to extend a warm welcome to your families and friends to come and celebrate this very special day with us. Our thanks to UniFest organisers John Liew, Peter Simondson and support teams.

Membership and Enrolments

The time for renewal of membership and enrolment in courses for next year is approaching. See the post 2025 Enrolments for the specific dates for payment of membership fees and class enrolments. Our members enjoy the benefits of lifelong learning experiences in a wide range of courses that suit a variety of interests among our members. In addition to learning they enjoy the warmth, the sense of belonging and the friendship of fellow members. It would be good to share what we enjoy with people who have not yet joined and will benefit from becoming members. Membership is open to people who are of retirement age, who are not in full-time employment, and who are interested in engaging with others to keep themselves physically and mentally active.

Summer School

For those who would like to connect with friends, keep up with exercise and enjoy short courses during the holidays, Summer School will make such opportunities available in January 2025. Enrolments are now open.

• Local History walks will run on three Tuesday mornings – 7, 14 and 21 January.
• A range of regular classes will be held at The Pines on Wednesday 15, 22 and 29 January. These include Strength Training, Chair-based Exercise, Dance to the Beat, Bridge and Current Affairs.
• Quiz Time and classes on Ancient Egyptian History and the French Enlightenment will be held on Wednesday 15 and 22 January.

Our thanks to Liz Haylock and Don O’Gorman, the Summer School Coordinators, for making available an exciting experience for our members during the summer break. Our grateful thanks to the tutors as well.

Looking Out for One Another

I am proud to say that members of U3A Manningham belong to a caring community. This care includes doing all we can to keep one another healthy. We are concerned about the spread of infectious diseases to our fellow members. It is not just COVID that is of concern to us. There are many other infectious diseases that are easily transmissible. A strong reminder to our members to please not attend classes when they feel unwell.

Another area of concern is about tables and chairs that are not packed away at the end of classes. This leaves the person who locks up at the end of the day to have to pack up all tables and chairs. Let us all help out by putting tables and chairs away at the end of each lesson. Private arrangements to leave the same tables and chairs for the next class do not always work because classes are occasionally cancelled, leaving the furniture unattended. May I ask that we pack up all furniture at the end of each lesson.

Happy Holiday Season

It has been a good year, thanks to our many volunteers who have selflessly given up their time to manage our U3A so seamlessly.

In anticipation of the holiday season, my very best wishes to all our members for a restful and safe holiday. I look forward to our return charged up for another exciting year at U3A Manningham. We will welcome new members on 31 January and classes will commence on 3 February 2025.

Shirley Fung
President