On Wednesday 20 August, we were pleased to welcome 115 members and 15 guests for the 2024/2025 Annual General Meeting. The business of the day included reporting to members on the activities of the Committee of Management and electing a new Committee of Management for 2025/2026, as well as setting the membership fees for the coming year.
The Dragon Boat Festival was the first Chinese holiday to be included in UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This festival occurs on the fifth day of the fifth month in the lunar calendar – 31 May in 2025. The festival is celebrated by holding dragon boat races and eating sticky rice dumplings called zongzi. Our U3A joined in the festivities.
In preparation for this festival, Class Leader Lan Tiet offered a demonstration of making sticky rice dumplings with different fillings such as chicken, pork or seafood with mushrooms and other vegetables, all inside a sticky rice coating and wrapped in bamboo leaves. Great fun was had as many class members attempted to wrap their dumplings in the stiff leaves – with varying levels of success.
Harmony Day commenced with food tasting in the dining area, with members bringing tasting plates from their cultural background. A colourful and tasty spread!
The event saw a great turnout, with the crowd actively participating and often cheering along with the cultural presentations featured on the day, creating a warm and inclusive atmosphere.
Our Greek Dancers shone at CultureFest
On Sunday 30 March, the Whitehorse Council CultureFest celebration at Strathdon House and Gardens was the scene of many lively rhythms and vibrant movements including our U3A Nunawading Greek Dancers.
The last day of Term 1 was a cool April day, so a gathering to celebrate with a sizzling sausage and onion in bread was a welcome warmer. A queue of members lined up from 12:30 pm for their choice of sausage.
During the first week of term, I attended New Members morning / afternoon teas organised by Marlene Fernandes and her Member Liaison team. The attendance was excellent, and it was great to meet so many of our new members.
I am sure that all those that attended have a much better idea of how U3A Nunawading works and the enormous contribution that our volunteers make.
Summer School 2025 was a week of informative talks, workshops, cooking demonstrations, movies, a quiz, a sing-a-long, and a partner yoga session enjoyed by many of our members.
Each day commenced with a Taiji class on the lawn and the second week of Summer School concluded with six excursions.
Summer School 2025 was a week of informative talks, workshops, cooking demonstrations, movies, a quiz, a sing-a-long, and a partner yoga session enjoyed by many of our members.
Each day commenced with a Taiji class on the lawn and the second week of Summer School concluded with six excursions.
The Volunteers are the first welcoming voice to U3A and support members in many ways including taking membership payments, and providing information to existing and prospective members as well as having a friendly chat as people pass by on their way to classes.
On Thursday 30 January, 55 Reception Desk volunteers gathered for an information session and morning tea in preparation for the year ahead on the Reception Desk at our U3A.
The Spring Festival took place on 17 November as it was postponed from its usual October schedule to accommodate council elections. Despite the change in timing, the event was a success, brimming with vibrant performances and enthusiastic participation. See the photo gallery