Welcome to the almost end of Term 2. In the Course Admin area, it has been very busy with making sure all your details are up-to-date before we move over to the new management system, Member Wizard.
A special thank you to Ken Briscoe for leading us through this transition to the new technology. I am sure you all appreciate the time, expertise and commitment needed to make this change possible.
Please read the article, Important Member Wizard Update, from Ken in this newsletter. It will help you to understand what you need to do for an easy transition to the new system.
Biggest Morning Tea
Thank you to all who supported the Biggest Morning Tea and associated raffles. Around $5000 was raised. Congratulations to the Thornburn Badminton Group for their efforts.
Prize winners
- There were 2073 lollies in the jar. Congratulations Teresa O’Brien who guessed 2110!
- Quilt winners were Kim Tu, Lynette Patullock (both U3A) and Chris O’Dowd.
- Of the 25 prizes in the general raffle, nine winners were U3A members.
See the photo gallery from the morning tea.
New classes commencing in Term 3 that have vacancies
26SCI002: A World of Maps. Thursday 2:25 – 3:45 pm. Studio 4. Leader Andrew Robinson.
In this course, we will firstly look at the history of maps from Babylonian times (500 BCE) to the Google earth of today. We will also discover how maps show cities’ growth and development. After a brief look at how maps are used in navigation and how GPS works, we will examine how Australia was mapped. Participants will be introduced to Geographical Information Systems (GIS), the immensely powerful tool which assists decision-making and problem-solving. Finally, we will come back closer to home and look at the maps we all carry in our pockets – on smartphone apps.
This is a repeat of the class run in Term 2.
26SCI007: Big Ideas in Biology. Friday 9 – 10:30 am. Studio 10. Leader Charlie McKavanagh.
Big Ideas in Biology is a discussion of the principles that underlie modern biological sciences. This discussion is underpinned by demonstrations and hands-on examinations of living and preserved plants and animals, and images, and through model making and simulations of biological processes. Participants are invited to share their experiences in order for everyone to better appreciate the living world and the big ideas that shape our understanding of it.
This is a repeat of the Term 2 class.
26SCI011: How to Survive in Space. Wednesday 10:45 am – 12 pm. Studio 4. Leader Christina Hart.
This short course will be based around a series of three lectures from the Royal Institution in London titled ‘How to Survive in Space’.
You may come along to this class simply to be entertained, but if you like to think seriously about the scientific content, you are bound to have many questions. I will attempt to answer those questions where I can, and where I can’t, we will research the answers together with help from Google (and AI!!).
26HUM025: Keep your Brain active Terms 3 & 4. Tuesday 9:30 – 11 am. Meeting Room 4. Leader Tom Edwards.
It is as important to maintain cognitive function as we age as it is to maintain our bodily health. It is necessary to have a variety of types of stimuli and not just the one e.g. crosswords. This we can achieve with the many types of logic puzzles available; the misuse of probabilities and statistics; optical illusions; magic tricks; and any phenomena that makes us think outside the box, that gives us an “ah ha” moment. This class will make you think but it will not be stressful, it will be great fun.
26ART016: Digital Art. Terms 3 & 4. Monday 10:45 am – 12 pm. Studio 5. Leader Paul Maguire.
This group is about exploring and producing digital art, either by digital drawing or photography, realistic or abstract styles. There are no artistic rules or what you must do. No experience is necessary, but participants are expected to have a reasonable understanding of the software they are proposing to use. Software you use will be your choice, although commonly used and usually free software is probably suitable. Please bring your own laptop, tablet, phone, or computer as your work surface.
There will be no how-to talks. Each person will be self-directed exploring their artistic ideas. Others in the class will assist to solve problems. Together we will explore the wonderful developing world of this new art technique/form. During class time participants will work on their artwork. Of course, participants can continue to work on their work at home. The group will meet weekly to discuss everyone’s progress and work, and how the effects have been achieved. The group will support each other with their ideas and techniques.
26HUM046: Pathways to Inner Health. Wednesday 1:45 – 2:30 pm. Meeting Room 3. Leader Keerti Baxi.
This class seeks to investigate questions pertaining to life and identity by stopping, observing and steering us towards a positive attitude, harnessing the power of mind. True understanding is a process to know your powerful self. To know who you TRULY are inside and how to respond rather than react to what is outside. This helps to us to understand ones’ self and cultivate willpower. Guided by mind or intellect depending upon choices, it is power to create thoughts that empowers self.
26ARTS11: Digital SLR Camera class. Friday 9:15 – 11:15 am. Studio 5. Leader Moses Tan.
This concise course of six lessons is for those who wish to master their Digital SLR (or mirrorless) cameras in order to make great photographs, be it in landscape, portrait or action. You will learn to achieve perfect exposure, control perspective and depth of field. Theory and the best settings for your camera will be explained simply; and practical sessions abound in the classroom. You will also be shown how to optimise your images using free software.
(Caveat: each lesson builds on the previous one; my advice, enrol only if you are able to attend all six sessions).
26EXES15: Lawn Bowls Introduction Term 3. Thursday 1 – 3 pm. Blackburn North Bowls Club. Leader John Blasetti.
Lawn Bowls is the royal and ancient outdoor/indoor game of skill and fellowship. This class is an entry level session for both the novice and the lapsed bowler. Accredited coaches will introduce students to the basics of the game. Each session will include theory and hands-on practice, covering the following criteria: 1. Bowls terminology, rules and etiquette; 2. How to deliver the bowl; 3. Formats of play – Singles, Pairs, Triples and Pennant; 4. Tactics, bowling to win.
26LANE14: EAL Beginners 7. Thursday 10:30 – 11:30 am. Meeting Room 3. Leader Judith Lim.
This class is designed to develop basic English skills. It is desirable that you have at least some knowledge of spoken English. You will have opportunities to develop confidence with your conversation skills in a relaxed and friendly environment using simple sentences, asking questions and learning to keep a conversation going. Correct pronunciation will be encouraged, along with the reading of simple texts. New vocabulary, including Australian expressions and idioms will be introduced as well as learning some informal grammar.
Elsie Mutton OAM
Course Administrator