Welcome to November Snippets. This month you are invited to a concert and to play tennis; we see a class managing the wet and visit another in the evening, get a taste for a unique Summer School class, learn about Swedish gnomes and congratulate a member on her special award.
Concert invitation
You are warmly invited to join us to celebrate the end of our 2022 U3A year and be entertained by the Choir, Swing Band and Progressive Guitar Group on Tuesday 29 November from 10.00 to 12.00 Studio 2.
There is no need to book, you can simply turn up and enjoy some toe-tapping music performed by the members of these three U3A Nunawading music classes
Walkers not deterred by lack of canoes!
By Ken Briscoe, Walking Group 2 Class Member
Nothing stops this group walking, not even rain and floods at Nortons Lane Park on Wednesday 26 October.
Unfortunately, our Leader, Glenn Claiden (pictured laughing at adversity) forgot to tell us to bring our canoes on this very wet day. Faced with the option of removing shoes and socks to continue, we decided it was perhaps more prudent to turn around and take a different track. Back at the car park after a 7.4 km-walk, we were a little damp around the feet, but otherwise dry. An interesting and enjoyable morning.
The classes you may not see
By Elsie Mutton, Course Administrator
While most of our classes occur between 9.00am and 3.30pm, an increasing number are being held outside these hours to make the most of the wonderful facilities we now have available at the Hub. We are continuing to see more classes starting before 9.00am, especially exercise classes, and an increasing number finishing at 4.00pm.
Starting even later, we have an evening Yoga class that starts at 5.30 and a Ballroom Dancing class that operates from 7.45pm – 9.45pm. Ballroom Dancing 3, which has been running in the evenings for many years, is led by Beng Lee who is ably assisted by his wife and dancing partner Peg Wong.
Recently, I dropped in to Studios 1 and 2 on a Wednesday night to say ‘hello’ to the members of this class. As always, there was a lively atmosphere with experienced dancers performing their championship sequences with style and enthusiasm, as our photos show.
Cruising in miniature
By June MacDonald, Summer School Committee member
Have you ever wanted to build a model boat? Join our Summer School class and discover some of the models that can be constructed at home.
Peter Dean has been making and sailing model boats since he was 12 years old and still enjoys not only building new ones, but the camaraderie he has built up over the years with other modellers when they sail together.
Peter’s first session at the Hub will be a beginner’s guide to the various types of boats and their construction techniques concentrating on semi-scale motorised vessels. A second session will be a field trip to nearby Surrey Park Model Club facilities where participants will see them in action and be able to talk to members of the club.
Swedish gnomes
Members of Beverley Wright’s Advanced Knitting class added to our growing sense of Christmas with their array of Swedish Gnomes displayed in the boxes adjacent to our Reception Desk at the Hub.
Although these festive little characters may remind you of Father Christmas, their background has a little more to it. In Sweden, these little chaps are called jultomten, which translates to Christmas Gnome.
The myth surrounding the jultomten has a connection to our own Father Christmas or Santa Claus, because jultomte is the Swedish version of St Nicholas. In Sweden, a member of the family or a ‘chartered’ neighbour dresses up as jultomen, so that he or she is as unrecognisable as possible. With a sack over his or her shoulder, they then knock on the door, asking the traditional question, “Are there any good children here?”
Anyone for tennis?
We have an offer to use the tennis courts and, if necessary, the club rooms at the Mitcham Tennis Club in Walker Park, Whitehorse Road.
Before we proceed, we need to know if anyone is interested in a regular social game of tennis run by U3A Nunawading. The alternative is that you might like to join the club direct, either as a social or competitive player.
If you are interested in any of the above, you can contact the Course Coordination team at or leave a message at the Reception Desk and you will be contacted.
Marie receives Multicultural Award
Congratulations to Class Leader Marie Pietersz who received a 2022 Promotion of Multiculturalism Award at this year’s Victorian Seniors Awards ceremony.
Since migrating from Sri Lanka in 1972, Marie has focused on making the most of every opportunity and helping people to build their skills, have fun and stay connected through music and dance.
Marie, who is pictured received her award from the Governor, was nominated by the Australia South Asia Society.