On Wednesday 2nd April U3A Benalla delivered a presentation to Benalla Rural City Councillors at an Assembly of Council meeting. The presentation went well. U3A Benalla were requesting more floor space at the Benalla Seniors and Community Centre. We had lots of questions from Councillors afterwards including one from the mayor asking if we had considered fund-raising toward the extension.
This question was discussed at the U3A Benalla Committee meeting on Thursday 10th April and subsequently the Committee has written to the Councillors offering $30,000 as a one-off contribution for an extension which will give U3A an extra room which will accommodate 45 people. This money has been accumulated over a period of 10 years by careful management of U3A finances. The Committee indicated to Councillors that the money is not for the planning period, but will be available during the construction phase of the extra room.
The day after our presentation to Council, three Councillors came to see the Patchwork and Craft group at work in Room 1. Dorothy Webber, who is the Convenor of Patchwork and Craft, had about 30 ladies busily sewing. Dorothy pointed out to the Mayor Bernie Hearn, Cr David Blore and Cr Justin King the new patchwork wall hanging which had been made by Corrie Witlox and hung in Room 1 during the last month. The reason for the Councillors visit was to point out to them how crowded this room can be, and how we need a larger room.
This question was discussed at the U3A Benalla Committee meeting on Thursday 10th April and subsequently the Committee has written to the Councillors offering $30,000 as a one-off contribution for an extension which will give U3A an extra room which will accommodate 45 people. This money has been accumulated over a period of 10 years by careful management of U3A finances. The Committee indicated to Councillors that the money is not for the planning period, but will be available during the construction phase of the extra room.
The day after our presentation to Council, three Councillors came to see the Patchwork and Craft group at work in Room 1. Dorothy Webber, who is the Convenor of Patchwork and Craft, had about 30 ladies busily sewing. Dorothy pointed out to the Mayor Bernie Hearn, Cr David Blore and Cr Justin King the new patchwork wall hanging which had been made by Corrie Witlox and hung in Room 1 during the last month. The reason for the Councillors visit was to point out to them how crowded this room can be, and how we need a larger room.
On Tuesday 25th March I attended the North East Regional U3A meeting which was held by Zoom. An interesting fact which came out of the meeting was that U3A Goulburn Valley, which is really Shepparton has 360 members, Albury/Wodonga has 400 members and U3A Benalla had 430 members. Shepparton’s population is roughly 70,000 whilst Albury/Wodonga is about 90,000 and Benalla’s population is about 14,000. So as a U3A we have proportionally attracted a bigger proportion of our population. Perhaps it is the 48 varied courses which we currently offer. You will be pleased to know that our membership has now reached 449.
Not everything has been good during the month. On Saturday 29th March we found that our laptop and the bag that housed associated equipment used in Room 1 was missing. At the same time as this was discovered, the TV was found to be on very loudly and the door to Room 1 open. On the following Monday we notified the Benalla Police. The laptop bag and contents has not been found.
My thanks to Bev Lee and Graeme Greed who have worked to keep groups functioning without the laptop, and to Graeme for sourcing a replacement remote for the overhead projector and HDMI cord so quickly.
On a more positive note, on Monday 7th April, I was invited by Horst Gunther to speak about U3A Benalla at the Probus meeting in Violet town. This talk took place at the Community Centre in Violet Town, which was a series of rooms adaptable for many different activities. The talk went well, and I certainly enjoyed meeting all the Probus members.
Margaret Jenkins
Not everything has been good during the month. On Saturday 29th March we found that our laptop and the bag that housed associated equipment used in Room 1 was missing. At the same time as this was discovered, the TV was found to be on very loudly and the door to Room 1 open. On the following Monday we notified the Benalla Police. The laptop bag and contents has not been found.
My thanks to Bev Lee and Graeme Greed who have worked to keep groups functioning without the laptop, and to Graeme for sourcing a replacement remote for the overhead projector and HDMI cord so quickly.
On a more positive note, on Monday 7th April, I was invited by Horst Gunther to speak about U3A Benalla at the Probus meeting in Violet town. This talk took place at the Community Centre in Violet Town, which was a series of rooms adaptable for many different activities. The talk went well, and I certainly enjoyed meeting all the Probus members.
Margaret Jenkins
