THE BU ZZ 3 September No. 214 A BENDIGO The BUZZ is printed for U3A Bendigo by courtesy of Jacinta Allan, Member for Bendigo East and Maree Edwards, Member for Bendigo West. Member’s Profile - Anne Speechley Newsletter of U3A Bendigo Inc. CONTENTS - The BUZZ Page This Month’s Dates 2 Gig Lists 2 Courses Coordinator 3 Class Notes 4, 7 News and Reports 5,7 President’s Report 5 U3A Bendigo Classes 6 Library Notes 7 Financial Statement 7 Being a relative newcomer to U3A of less than two years I may not be familiar to a lot of people. This year I’ve been involved in Bushwalking and Garden Visiting and more recently the Art Gallery group. My main passion is garden- ing but I have a great interest in nature generally, which has evolved through being a long time member of the Bendigo Field Naturalists club and living and working in National Parks. Married to Roy with two adult sons we met and married in Bendigo before moving around the state spending time in Brisbane Ranges, Wilsons Promontory, Heales- ville, where I worked for the sanctuary for a good number of years. Buxton, then back to Bendigo where I was lucky enough to find work at Goldfields Revegetation, remaining there till retiring 14 years later. bird spotting and travelling around Australia. Recently we’ve purchased a new caravan and intend becoming grey no- mads in the near future. Animals have been an important part of our lives and we were consumed by showing Keeshond dogs for a few years. Currently we are owned by Summer the Shetland Sheepdog. Goats, chooks, ducks and aviary birds have also resided with us at different times. We live on a large bush block and I count myself lucky to have lived in so many nice places and having had jobs I enjoyed and now continuing to meet so many interesting people through U3A. Anne Speechley together with her Shetland Sheepdog, Summer My family home was Halls Gap where my father’s parents had a farm which is now under Lake Bellfield. Holidays were spent exploring and playing in the creek. Roy and I have always spent our holidays plant and PLEASE NOTE - EARLY DEADLINE FOR OCTOBER BUZZ FRIDAY 30 SEPTEMBER 2011
Transcript
THE
BU ZZ
3 September No. 214
A BENDIGO
The BUZZ is printed for U3A Bendigo by courtesy of Jacinta Allan, Member for Bendigo East and Maree Edwards, Member for Bendigo West.
Being a relative newcomer to U3A of less than two years I may not be familiar to a lot of people.
This year I’ve been involved in Bushwalking and Garden Visiting and more recently the Art Gallery group.
My main passion is garden-ing but I have a great interest in nature generally, which has evolved through being a long time member of the Bendigo Field Naturalists club and living and working in National Parks.
Married to Roy with two adult sons we met and married in Bendigo before moving around the state spending time in Brisbane Ranges, Wilsons Promontory, Heales-ville, where I worked for the sanctuary for a good number of years. Buxton, then back to Bendigo where I was lucky enough to find work at Goldfields Revegetation, remaining there till retiring 14 years later.
bird spotting and travelling around Australia. Recently we’ve purchased a new caravan and
intend becoming grey no-mads in the near future.
Animals have been an important part of our lives and we were consumed by showing Keeshond dogs for a few years.
Currently we are owned by Summer the Shetland Sheepdog. Goats, chooks, ducks and aviary birds have also resided with us at different times.
We live on a large bush block and I count myself lucky to have lived in so many nice places and having had jobs I enjoyed and now continuing to meet so many interesting people through U3A.
Anne Speechley together with her Shetland Sheepdog,
Summer
My family home was Halls Gap where my father’s parents had a farm which is now under Lake Bellfield. Holidays were spent exploring and playing in the creek.
Roy and I have always spent our holidays plant and
PLEASE NOTE - EARLY DEADLINE FOR OCTOBER BUZZ FRIDAY 30 SEPTEMBER 2011
COMMITTEE MEMBERS OF U3A BENDIGO
President Barbara Ritchie 5447 7521
Vice President Peter Eisen 5439 7156
Secretary Rosemarie Belbin 0458674021
Treasurer Helen Gobbe 5444 3645
Minutes Secretary Helen McIntyre 5444 5899
Course Co-ordinator Peter Eisen 5439 7156
The BUZZ Editor Janice Waller 5448 8082
Committee Michael Durant 5442 4248 Michael McNeill Lyn Goodall Graham Robinson
Other Committee duties: U3A Network representative Barbara Ritchie Publicity Rosemarie Belbin Property Officer Michael Durant
Persons of Responsibility: Library Shirley Marshall 54428784
Pastoral Care Anne Driesen 54444758
Office Manager Sandra Edwards 54432082
Postal address of U3A Bendigo: PO Box 274, Bendigo VIC 3552 Phone 03 5444 0362
Email [email protected] Web page - http://home.vicnet.net.au/~u3abgo/
U3A Bendigo Rooms are located at the Osborne Street Campus, La Trobe University
GIG LISTS
Choir: No gigs at the moment
Instruments:
No gigs at the moment
Chime Group:
No gigs at the moment
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~ IMPORTANT DATES ~ Social Gathering:
Our September Social Gathering will be on Wednesday 28
September at 2.00 pm in the Burnett Lounge. Guest Speaker
will be Ken Arnold, historian and author, will speak on Local
Issues. He will bring some of his many books with him.
In addition to the Guest Speaker, Michael Grounds will give us
a short presentation on Cryptic Crosswords for Beginners.
~ CONTACT DETAILS ~
Barbie’s Party
Our president, Barbara Ritchie, is now eighty. She had a great party in the Shamrock Hotel on Saturday 27 August attended by a wide spectrum of friends.
There were people she and her late husband made friends with over fifty years ago, U3A friends, line dancing friends, church friends, senior women who Barbara had just recently taught to swim in her back yard pool, and of course lots and lots of family.
Barbara is trim, taut and terrific. She and her line-dancing friends gave demonstrations of that art with grace, co-ordination and vigour, and she was show-ered with compliments, congratulations and thanks for her contributions to so many lives.
NEW MEMBERS TO U3A BENDIGO - We take this opportunity to extend a warm
welcome to Julie Coyne
and
Margaret Collins
PLEASE NOTE CHANGE OF DEADLINE FOR THE OCTOBER EDITION OF THE BUZZ
The BUZZ deadline for the October edition will be
Friday 30th September - by noon in tray, 6pm by email to the
Editor: jwaller at impulse net au - add dots, use @
The BUZZ posting: Thursday 6 October at 3.00pm in Room 2. Volunteers to assist in The BUZZ posting most welcome.
Next Committee Meeting: Monday 3 October at 10am.
FROM THE COURSES COORDINATOR It seems Victoria has had a mild, dry winter, perhaps not so dry in Bendigo. Now it is spring we can return to more outdoor activities. As well, please give all our presenters good support. This month’s report is much the same as for August with one significant difference, Tom Dewhurst’s phone number. Sorry Tom and those misled by my mistake.
COURSES AND ACTIVITIES. SKETCHING: Good news for members who have been involved and those who are ready to start. Ronda Pascoe will be running another 6 week sketching class from Friday 7th October to the 11th November 2011. She may include an approach to water olours. It will be in Room 2 between 1.00 and 3.00 pm. Call Ronda on 5443 6205 to book your place. Don’t wait too long or you may miss out.
PRESENTATIONS: NOTE*** All one off pres-entations are in Room 2 on Tuesdays at 10.00 am.
27th September 2011. A Thumb Nail Sketch of Five Beliefs: Hinduism, Buddhism, Christian, Islam and Baha'i. Bob Harwood will give a condensed account of these teachings using headings of When, Who and Teachings. He's looking for active discussion of a question "Why do we need all these different beliefs?". To get involved call Bob on 5442 8861. Please leave a message if Bob is out.
October 4th 2011. Time: How we measure it through the ages. Keith Thompson makes refer-ence to growing technologies and the calendar. So if you wish to learn why the Russians celebrate the October Revolution in November, why the British tax year ends on April the 5th,why we call the days of the week as we do, or how we managed before we invented time zones, come along. Call Keith on 5443 7399.
11th October 2011. Snakes and snakebite: Ven-oms, first aid and treatment. Graham Robinson will tell us about Australian snakes and their venoms. He'll outline what we should and should not do if bitten; this could save lives. Then you'll learn about anti-venom, it's production and most importantly it's use. Call Graham on 5439 5332 to book your place.
18th October 2011. The Rats are Innocent: The Black Death was not Bubonic Plague. A fascinat-ing, topical story from Graham Robinson. You'll learn about what causes bubonic plague and the Black Death in Europe. By studying English parish records Graham shows it was not bubonic plague, then proposes some possible causes. Could the Black Death return, and what would we do? Call Graham on 5439 5332.
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25th October 2011. Catastrophes. John Neil is a great presenter and now turns his attention to recent catastrophes; New Zealand's terrible tragedies, cyclones and floods in Queensland, and Japan's earth quake and tsunami. All of these involve human disaster, and all need to be understood. Come and listen to John's graphic presentation by calling him on 5443 5175. 1st November 2011. Energy Efficient Hous-ing. Tom Dewhurst built his and Linda’s energy efficient home and will explain how to reduce our energy consumption. He has a compelling case to make about maximizing comfort while using less energy, and, argues we need to influence younger generations in the light of appalling building advertised by build-ers. Call Tom on 5444 1232. 8th November 2011. A trip on The Orient Express' 25th Anniversary. Bryan and Eileen McGrath had the great fortune to travel for 9 days on the Orient Express from Venice to Prague. This was the first time since World War 2 for this journey to go into previous “Iron Curtain” countries. Bryan will show photos of their trip and give us a graphic account of a marvelous adventure. Call him on 5443 7542 to take this trip. 15th and 22nd November 2011. Number Systems. Tom Dewhurst will enlighten us on how humans’ ten fingers has become the basis of our numbering system. Five fingers (one hand) have been used by some cultures. Find out about other systems and the meaning of 10s company and 11s a crowd. These two sessions by Tom can be booked with him on 5444 1232. 29th November 2011. The Preferential Vot-ing System. Another of Tom Dewhurst's must not miss presentations. Our Australian voting system is fairer than those of England and of the USA. In a mock election you will see that a vote for an independent or a minor party is never wasted. What vital information at a time when politics in Australia needs a wake- up call. Give it a chance with Tom on 5444 1232.
A REMINDER TO ALL CONVENORS: Please make the meeting on THURSDAY 3rd November 2011 at 3.00 PM; note it in your diary/calendar/notice board.
AND IN BRIEF: We will be moving from here next year as the University has to sell the site. As soon as is possible you’ll know where we are going and what will be involved.
Peter Eisen 5439 7156
CREATIVE WRITING
Topics for October 2011
Friday 7th Living in Bendigo
Friday 21st Midnight
Enquiries to Estelle Randall 5443 1181
BUSH WALKING GROUP All walks leave at 8.30am sharp
October 6 Meet at Strath Village top car park Edwards Road. Car pool to the corner of Wildflower Drive and Strathfieldsaye Road. 6 – 7 km Easy, mainly flat on roads and pathways. Lots of wildflowers. Leader Lorraine Griffiths 5444 2626
October 13 Meet at Strath Village top car park Edwards Road. Car pool to Guys Hill Road. Walk follows Pioneer Track over One Tree Hill to One Tree Hill Pub. Car shuffle required. 8 – 9 km. Medium. Leader Joy Clusker 5439 5682
October 20 Meet at Spring Gully Hall car park. Walk near Spring Gully Reservoir. Some hills. 5 – 6 km. Medium. Leader Max Elgin 5442 3573.
October 27 Meet at Tennis Courts car park corner Reservoir and McIvor Rds, Kennington. Car pool to Mt Ida near Heathcote. 8 km Medium. Steep in parts and some rocky bits. Bring lunch. Leader Liz Bennett 5446 2984
Annual Camp Our annual camp from Wednesday September 28 to Sunday October 2 will be at Cave Hill Creek resort. You should have paid your deposit of $70 by now. The balance of $200 is due by September 14. Contact Judy Johnstone 5443 1459, Alison Floyd 5443 0963.
THURSDAY LUNCHEON CLUB Thursday 6 October Lunch
will be at the White Horse Hotel, Eaglehawk Road, California Gully
(opposite Fitzpatrick’s Hardware Store) at 12.30 pm.
Book with Jenny Baxter on 5446 7820 on or before Thursday 29 September
All welcome
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STAYING ACTIVE GROUP
Easy walking of about 40 minutes on good paths, and a social cuppa, each Thursday. Starting time is 10.00 am. New Members welcome. Convenor - Barbara Smith tel. 5444 3779.
6 October White Hills Botanic Gardens. Meet Scott Street carpark.
13 October Kangaroo Flat. Meet Browning Street YMCA carpark.
20 October Crusoe Reservoir. Meet Harvey Norman carpark to carpool. BYO morning tea.
27 October Kennington Reservoir. Meet Strath Village carpark, near Condon Street traffic lights.
~ CLASS NOTES ~
WALKING FOR FITNESS All walks are about one hour duration and at a brisk pace, covering approx. 5 km. Please carry water. New members are always welcome. Coffee and chat on completion of our walk is usual. For further information please phone Wim on 5447 9421 or 0467 730 4935.
Walks commence at 9.30am sharp. Thursday walks
October 6 Meet at Vains Street, Quarry Hill. Leader Graeme Smith October 13 Meet at Crusoe Reservoir No. 7. Take Granter Street off Furness Road. October 20 Meet at Lake Neangar, Napier Street, Eaglehawk. Gully Road. October 27 Meet at top of Cousins Street, Strathdale.
Monday Walks On October 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31 meet at Lake Weeroona carpark ( next to railway line.)
ART GALLERY VISITING GROUP
Bendigo Art Gallery Art & Tea
Wednesday 21 September at 10.00am
Speaker will be Costumier Annette Soumillis ‘Clothing connected to “White Wedding Dress”
Display.’
Enquiries to Val Wellings on 5441 1721.
Exhibition at Visual Arts Centre, 121 View Street
‘Antartic Journeys Dry Valleys and South Georgia. Professor Elaine Shemilt. 7 September – 16 October. ‘Background’ - Work of three printmakers. 7 September - 2 October.
From the President -
The Swan saga continues: I managed to see that Mother Swan is sitting on six eggs again. It must be close to the six weeks needed for these eggs to hatch. Father Swan is taking very good care of the juniors during the day while Mother is otherwise occupied. They are certainly going to have their hands (paddles) full when the babies arrive in keeping the young ones away from the babies. I hope to have some good news before this newsletter goes to press.
On to some U3A news: In regard to our accommodation at Osborne Street, after a meeting with Paul Donovan, Project Director of La Trobe University, Paul believes we will be able to stay where we are until the end of 2012. In the meantime we are working with the Bendigo Council to help us acquire suitable accom-modation for our future needs. In doing this the committee believes we need to contribute toward the cost of this enterprise. We are now going to make an effort to raise some funds to put toward assist-ing council with this new project. So if you have any ideas in regard to fundraising please call me or any committee member.
The Seniors Week Bendigo Program is due out next week and will be available in Coles New World and also in our U3A rooms. Note the days of free train travel, movies, concerts etc.
If you happen to be in Melbourne on Sunday 2nd of October, at Federation Square, Victorian U3As will be on display at the Carnival of Learning. Also during Seniors Week U3A will be on display at the Melbourne Town Hall Hub from Monday to Friday.
Our usual OPEN DAY is on Tuesday 4th October during Seniors week and a number of our groups will be displaying their classes activities while visitors wander through our rooms. We need to be aware that to expand and maintain our organisation of U3A the general community and governing bodies need to be implicitly aware of both our activities and benefits to our respective members and to the community at large.
I do hope you take note of the time and date of the Seniors choir, they are performing along with the Girton Choir at the Capital Theatre, as advertised in this Buzz, quite a number are U3A members and they need our support.
I will continue to remind you about our Chicken and Champagne Lunch on Oaks Day in November. Remember that outfit you wore to that special occasion all those years ago, well here is your chance to give it another outing, and that hat gathering dust, a few extra flowers and you could win a very nice prize.
Barbara Ritchie
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FOREVER YOUNG CHOIR Bendigo is well known for its many Choirs and Musical Groups, and this year a new Choir was formed with the view to highlighting the talents and love of music by the ‘over sixty’ generation. Many U3A Bendigo members were among the forty or so singers who welcomed the opportunity to be in-volved. This has been a stimulating and challenging experience for all of us, with the delightful and dynamic Laura Dusseljee as our Musical Director.
With the concept of ‘bridging the gap’ between generations, Laura has involved the Girton College Music Students, both the String Ensemble and the Rock Band to accompany the Choir when it makes it Debut Performance during Senior’s week. Many of the songs performed will be from the 70’s and 80’s, and were popular when our own children were young Adults.
We would love you to come along and help us enjoy the experience.
Remember the date – Wednesday, October 5 commencing at 7pm. The Capital, Tickets - $15 for Seniors
For further information please contact Linda Dewhurst.
Walking for Fitness Wim Van der Eynden 5443 3416 See The BUZZ 9.00am Thurs & Mon.
SHORT COURSES AND ONE-OFF PRESENTATIONS - see Course Coordinator’s Report Page 3
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~ CLASS NOTES and NEWS PAGE ~
Financial Statement 31 August 2011
B/Forward - 31 July 4,447.20 Plus Deposits 3,942.20 Less Payments - 337.10
Available Funds $8,052.30 Add Unpresented Cheques Nil
Bank Statement Balance $8,052.30 Major Items this month: Funds for Bushwalking group
DIGITAL PHOTO WORKSHOP
In October I will be giving instructions for digital photography: “From the Camera to the DVD.” You will learn how to transfer and edit photos and then burn a DVD which can be viewed on the TV. Selected music can be added as a background to viewing the DVD. Participants should have a basic understanding of computers. Bring your own laptop if you have got one. We only have 1 laptop at U3A suitable for this exercise. Please make sure your have ‘Windows DVD Maker’ or ‘Windows Live Movie Maker’ installed on your computer (check in ‘Start’ at ‘All Programs’.) Anyone interested
please contact Ilse; Ph: 5441 6215 or email ilseramsay gmail com (use@ and dot). Ilse Ramsay
ART GROUP
The Monday U3A Art Group has expanded to the afternoon for residents and
members.
If anyone is interested in joining us between 2pm and 4pm, please contact
Bev Barclay on 544 0770.
‘Writing Your Memoir Workshop’ in Seniors’ Week
The Bendigo Writers’ Council is hosting a workshop on writing your life story. Lee Kofman, the author of three books, will be the facilitator. She was the recipient of an Australia Council Developing Writers Grant in 2004, and holds an MA in Creative Writing. Place: Best Community Development Building, 26 St Andrews Ave, Bendigo Time: 1:30-3:30pm on Sunday October 9th Cost: gold coin - includes afternoon tea.
SUCCESSION PLANNING
WHAT IS IT LIKE TO BE ON THE U3A BENDIGO
COMMITTEE OF MANAGEMENT?
Would you like to become a member of the U3A Bendigo Committee of Management?
Ask a Member of the Committee or watch The BUZZ for further information
Library Notes - August
What generous donors we have! Four new, or nearly new, books this month - two autobiogra-phies: ‘Mao’s last dance’ by Li Cunxin (Chinese ballet dancer) who made world news when he defected from China to America. His story was filmed and shown in Australia recently.
The second, ‘Piano lessons’ by Anna Goldsworthy, tells of the development and career of a classical concert pianist in Australia.
Two for the drinker: ‘Wine atlas of Australia’ by James Halliday, and ‘The Australian beer compa-nion’ by Willie Simpson - the titles speak for them-selves.
In response to my appeal last month, Norma Cook has kindly volunteered to be my Assistant Library-person. Our combined experiences in libraries - technical, primary school, college and public - would be unique, perhaps, in U3As! Thank you,
Norma. Shirley Libraryperson
U3A Garden Party ‘Oaks Day’
THURSDAY 3 November 2011 Chicken and Champagne Lunch 12 noon - 4.00 pm at President’s home, Kangaroo Flat (address details following payment)
$20.00 single, Double $40
Surname First name Partner’s first name if payment is for couple ____________________ __________________ _________________________ Address: ________________________________________________ Email address (for issue of receipt):____________________________________ Amount enclosed: $__________________ Please circle method of payment Receipt No: _________________ Cheque/Cash/postal order
Please forward payment and completed form to: The Treasurer, U3A Bendigo, Box 274, Bendigo 3552
PRINT POST
PP 326764/00004
Postage Paid BENDIGO VIC 3550
If undeliverable return to U3A BENDIGO Inc PO Box 274 BENDIGO VIC 3552
The BUZZ
U3A Bendigo
Shared Learning in Mature Years
Daytime Classes and activities to keep your mind and your body active
in your life’s Third Age.
Monday Art, Computers for Beginners, Cryptic Crosswords for Beginners, Committee (1), Walking for Fitness, Play Reading (4), Table Tennis
Aerobics for Seniors, Discussion Group, Hand-Chimes, Art
Tuesday Short term courses, Mah Jong, Excel for Beginners,
