Well, at last count, we now have 477 members! We just keep growing. Unfortunately, we are also losing some members through ill health. Our current membership is 124 males and 353 females.
It seems to be a trend with clubs generally that there are more female members than males. But the important thing is that people are getting out and about, meeting others, communicating and keeping active. That is so important for older people — it certainly helps keep those grey cells working!
Victorian Seniors Festival — October
Jane Rushworth and Noel Baumgarten are in full flow preparing for the Victorian Seniors Festival. Our theme is:
“Celebrate Ageing with U3A Benalla. Get out, try something new, meet people and have some fun.”
Once again, U3A Benalla will hold our BBQ and Be Connected Tech Support on Wednesday, 21 October. The Lions Club will again be cooking the BBQ, so put the date in your diary!
From 10.00–11.30 am, Phillipa Slinger, Community Engagement Specialist, NBN North East Victoria, will speak about NBN Local. I have heard Phillipa speak before and she is both interesting and informative, with plenty of opportunity for questions.
The BBQ will follow from 12 noon–1.00 pm. The sausages and hamburgers will all be gluten-free.
Our Tech Advice team will then be available for guidance and one-on-one support. Come along, meet the team and build your confidence.
Thanks to Jane Rushworth’s efforts, we have received a $1,000 Good Things/Be Connected grant towards the ‘Get on Line Week’ BBQ and Be Connected activities. It will help cover salads and other food, plus a $150 donation to the Lions Club for volunteering to cook the meat. It should, as usual, be a great day.
Several ‘Come and Try’ activities will also feature during Seniors Month, including Brain Games, Cards 500, Community Singing, Critical Thinking, Exercises for Fun, Garden Team, Mahjong, Singing for Fun, Sustainability and Stock and Land. Our ‘taster’ period for all courses and activities is also on offer to U3A members and friends during Seniors Month.
And don’t forget, U3A Benalla’s Ukes4Fun group will be playing at the Devenish Market on Sunday 4 October, 9.00 am–12 noon, at Bicentennial Park. Good luck, all! We’ll also have a stall at the Community Expo in October.
There will be booklets available throughout the Benalla area outlining Seniors Month events, so keep your eyes peeled!
A Productive Meeting
On 11 August, I had a very productive meeting with Benalla Rural City Council’s CEO, Peter Keane. Two important matters were the renewal of our licence and U3A’s growing need for more space.
The old school in Bridge Street is not currently an option because of its proposed Heritage Overlay, and Peter felt it could cause more trouble than it was worth.
The good news is that Peter is being proactive in looking for possible sites. He has a few ideas in mind, although he wasn’t prepared to say where just yet. Watch this space!
Other News
Member Wizard continues to progress in the background. Meetings have been held with Convenors to introduce the new system, with most of our 32 Convenors having been shown how to set up and log into the MW trial.
It’s now September — don’t blink or you’ll miss it! Time is marching on, and a Programs and Publicity group is beginning to meet to prepare the Program Guide for 2027. There has been some talk about reinstating “Sky’s the Limit”, although nothing is concrete yet. Another suggestion is “For the Love of Dogs” – a group for our dog walkers and interested others. Again, just an idea at this stage. If either appeals to you, or if you have an idea for a new course or activity in 2027, please contact me on 0438 447 379.
We recently updated our Risk Management Policy to include the use of the Benalla Indoor Recreation Centre by our Pickleball group. There are links to our Policy Documents on the website’s Our U3A page.
I had intended to attend the U3A State Conference in Melbourne on 16–17 September, but unfortunately it has been cancelled due to a lack of numbers.
Thinking of Our Members
A few members are still experiencing health issues. Our Secretary, Malcolm Sanders, is still undergoing tests. Athol Graham was in hospital, came home, went out for tea and unfortunately had a fall, so is back in hospital again. John Archer has also been in hospital and, sadly, his lovely wife Rosemary has passed away. Our sincere condolences go to John and his family.
That’s it until next month. It has been a busy but thoroughly enjoyable month for me, and, as you can see from my reports, a very diverse one.
Keep enjoying yourselves, stay healthy and, most importantly, enjoy life!
“Life is short, Time is fast, No replay, No rewind, so enjoy every moment as it comes.”
Anne Nelson
President
It seems to be a trend with clubs generally that there are more female members than males. But the important thing is that people are getting out and about, meeting others, communicating and keeping active. That is so important for older people — it certainly helps keep those grey cells working!
Victorian Seniors Festival — October
Jane Rushworth and Noel Baumgarten are in full flow preparing for the Victorian Seniors Festival. Our theme is:
“Celebrate Ageing with U3A Benalla. Get out, try something new, meet people and have some fun.”
Once again, U3A Benalla will hold our BBQ and Be Connected Tech Support on Wednesday, 21 October. The Lions Club will again be cooking the BBQ, so put the date in your diary!
From 10.00–11.30 am, Phillipa Slinger, Community Engagement Specialist, NBN North East Victoria, will speak about NBN Local. I have heard Phillipa speak before and she is both interesting and informative, with plenty of opportunity for questions.
The BBQ will follow from 12 noon–1.00 pm. The sausages and hamburgers will all be gluten-free.
Our Tech Advice team will then be available for guidance and one-on-one support. Come along, meet the team and build your confidence.
Thanks to Jane Rushworth’s efforts, we have received a $1,000 Good Things/Be Connected grant towards the ‘Get on Line Week’ BBQ and Be Connected activities. It will help cover salads and other food, plus a $150 donation to the Lions Club for volunteering to cook the meat. It should, as usual, be a great day.
Several ‘Come and Try’ activities will also feature during Seniors Month, including Brain Games, Cards 500, Community Singing, Critical Thinking, Exercises for Fun, Garden Team, Mahjong, Singing for Fun, Sustainability and Stock and Land. Our ‘taster’ period for all courses and activities is also on offer to U3A members and friends during Seniors Month.
And don’t forget, U3A Benalla’s Ukes4Fun group will be playing at the Devenish Market on Sunday 4 October, 9.00 am–12 noon, at Bicentennial Park. Good luck, all! We’ll also have a stall at the Community Expo in October.
There will be booklets available throughout the Benalla area outlining Seniors Month events, so keep your eyes peeled!
A Productive Meeting
On 11 August, I had a very productive meeting with Benalla Rural City Council’s CEO, Peter Keane. Two important matters were the renewal of our licence and U3A’s growing need for more space.
The old school in Bridge Street is not currently an option because of its proposed Heritage Overlay, and Peter felt it could cause more trouble than it was worth.
The good news is that Peter is being proactive in looking for possible sites. He has a few ideas in mind, although he wasn’t prepared to say where just yet. Watch this space!
Other News
Member Wizard continues to progress in the background. Meetings have been held with Convenors to introduce the new system, with most of our 32 Convenors having been shown how to set up and log into the MW trial.
It’s now September — don’t blink or you’ll miss it! Time is marching on, and a Programs and Publicity group is beginning to meet to prepare the Program Guide for 2027. There has been some talk about reinstating “Sky’s the Limit”, although nothing is concrete yet. Another suggestion is “For the Love of Dogs” – a group for our dog walkers and interested others. Again, just an idea at this stage. If either appeals to you, or if you have an idea for a new course or activity in 2027, please contact me on 0438 447 379.
We recently updated our Risk Management Policy to include the use of the Benalla Indoor Recreation Centre by our Pickleball group. There are links to our Policy Documents on the website’s Our U3A page.
I had intended to attend the U3A State Conference in Melbourne on 16–17 September, but unfortunately it has been cancelled due to a lack of numbers.
Thinking of Our Members
A few members are still experiencing health issues. Our Secretary, Malcolm Sanders, is still undergoing tests. Athol Graham was in hospital, came home, went out for tea and unfortunately had a fall, so is back in hospital again. John Archer has also been in hospital and, sadly, his lovely wife Rosemary has passed away. Our sincere condolences go to John and his family.
That’s it until next month. It has been a busy but thoroughly enjoyable month for me, and, as you can see from my reports, a very diverse one.
Keep enjoying yourselves, stay healthy and, most importantly, enjoy life!
“Life is short, Time is fast, No replay, No rewind, so enjoy every moment as it comes.”
Anne Nelson
President
