What a wonderful Get Online Week Event we had on Wednesday 22nd October with our BBQ and Ask a Question. It was the first year that we needed to enjoy the BBQ indoors due to rain and strong winds. However, there were over 55 members and visitors there to listen to the great music provided by the U3A Ukulele group as they enjoyed their lunch.
Thanks to the Lions members for cooking the BBQ and also to Ruth Jelliff and Robyn Lukey for providing the introduction to Be Connected afterwards and answering all the digital questions that their audience asked.
We have had some great news from our Patchwork and Craft group. Dorothy Webber has been asked by Brenda Wellman, Curator of the Benalla Art Gallery to be part of the first exhibition in the shop at 75 Bridge Street from 14th November 2025 to 27th January 2026 and to display some of the great quilts the group have made during 2025. Suitable quilts have been chosen and will be hung on 9 metres of wall space. It is an honour to be chosen as the first Exhibition in this temporary space while the Benalla Art Gallery is undergoing renovations.
Congratulations to the Ukulele group who played with other ukulele groups in Federation Square in Melbourne on the first Sunday in October as part of the Victorian Seniors Festival. I heard that our U3A Ukulele group got a special mention from the MC due to their attractive shirts and looking so happy while playing their ukuleles. Well done Heather and the Group. The Ukulele group also entertained at the World Flavours Morning Tea in the Benalla Town Hall on 22nd October, as well as at our BBQ later that day. It is great to see them out in the community providing such wonderful entertainment and enjoying themselves.
The U3A Benalla Program Committee have been meeting regularly and are making progress with the 2026 program. We are fortunate that Photography appears to be the only course taking a break in 2026. The U3A Benalla Committee would like to thank Rene Martens for his inspiring three years as Convenor of Photography, and sincerely hope that the group is back after a break.
There are several new courses being developed for 2026. These include Pickleball which will start at 10am on Monday 3rd November 2025 at the Indoor Recreation Centre in Akerley Avenue Benalla. We have 10 interested members at the moment and are hoping that more members will come and try it. Cost per week is $5 which will cover the hire of the court. Please contact Jan Kennedy on 0421 679 115 or Anne Nelson for further information. Other new courses which look like being in the Timetable in 2026 include Digital Upskilling and Lifelong Learners with Bev Lee, Benalla Heights Murders with Peter Thompson, Come and Try Croquet with Debbie Hazell and Critical Thinking with Linda Tulberg. There are also another three other courses being investigated at the moment. Course descriptions will be available in the next Newsletter.
With the installation of the new stove at the Benalla Seniors and Community Centre and a request from Age Friendly Benalla for a repeat of Cooking Solo, we had been hoping to run Cooking Solo in 2026. However, to run this course we need a Convenor. The members who ran the course in 2024 are not available due to many other commitments. So, if you think you and a friend could run Cooking Solo, please contact Anne Nelson on 0438 447 379.
We have two Digital Upskilling sessions with Melissa from the Click group this year. The first is on Wednesday 28th October and is related to Getting More from Your Photos. The second session is on 2nd December and is about using Artificial Intelligence 2.0: Using A1 for Planning Courses and other activities. There is a sheet outside Room 1 where you can add your name for these activities.
The U3A concert will be held at the November Meet and Mingle on Wednesday 19th November at 10am in the Auditorium of the Benalla Seniors and Community Centre. We will have the Recorder Group, the Ukulele Group and the Singing for Fun group entertaining you. There will also be a display by the Patchwork and Craft group. This year there will also be an art display in Room 2 by members of the Taste of Art group. A really special morning. So please bring your friends along to enjoy the morning.
Our end of year lunch will be held on Friday 28th November at 12.30pm at the Benalla Golf Club. For catering purposes can you let Helen Jeffree on 0490 092 267 know if you would like to come. You can choose and pay for your meal on the day. However, we need numbers so we can be seated in one area. So far, we have 37 members and/or partners coming. Hope to see you there too.
Margaret Jenkins
We have had some great news from our Patchwork and Craft group. Dorothy Webber has been asked by Brenda Wellman, Curator of the Benalla Art Gallery to be part of the first exhibition in the shop at 75 Bridge Street from 14th November 2025 to 27th January 2026 and to display some of the great quilts the group have made during 2025. Suitable quilts have been chosen and will be hung on 9 metres of wall space. It is an honour to be chosen as the first Exhibition in this temporary space while the Benalla Art Gallery is undergoing renovations.
Congratulations to the Ukulele group who played with other ukulele groups in Federation Square in Melbourne on the first Sunday in October as part of the Victorian Seniors Festival. I heard that our U3A Ukulele group got a special mention from the MC due to their attractive shirts and looking so happy while playing their ukuleles. Well done Heather and the Group. The Ukulele group also entertained at the World Flavours Morning Tea in the Benalla Town Hall on 22nd October, as well as at our BBQ later that day. It is great to see them out in the community providing such wonderful entertainment and enjoying themselves.
The U3A Benalla Program Committee have been meeting regularly and are making progress with the 2026 program. We are fortunate that Photography appears to be the only course taking a break in 2026. The U3A Benalla Committee would like to thank Rene Martens for his inspiring three years as Convenor of Photography, and sincerely hope that the group is back after a break.
There are several new courses being developed for 2026. These include Pickleball which will start at 10am on Monday 3rd November 2025 at the Indoor Recreation Centre in Akerley Avenue Benalla. We have 10 interested members at the moment and are hoping that more members will come and try it. Cost per week is $5 which will cover the hire of the court. Please contact Jan Kennedy on 0421 679 115 or Anne Nelson for further information. Other new courses which look like being in the Timetable in 2026 include Digital Upskilling and Lifelong Learners with Bev Lee, Benalla Heights Murders with Peter Thompson, Come and Try Croquet with Debbie Hazell and Critical Thinking with Linda Tulberg. There are also another three other courses being investigated at the moment. Course descriptions will be available in the next Newsletter.
With the installation of the new stove at the Benalla Seniors and Community Centre and a request from Age Friendly Benalla for a repeat of Cooking Solo, we had been hoping to run Cooking Solo in 2026. However, to run this course we need a Convenor. The members who ran the course in 2024 are not available due to many other commitments. So, if you think you and a friend could run Cooking Solo, please contact Anne Nelson on 0438 447 379.
We have two Digital Upskilling sessions with Melissa from the Click group this year. The first is on Wednesday 28th October and is related to Getting More from Your Photos. The second session is on 2nd December and is about using Artificial Intelligence 2.0: Using A1 for Planning Courses and other activities. There is a sheet outside Room 1 where you can add your name for these activities.
The U3A concert will be held at the November Meet and Mingle on Wednesday 19th November at 10am in the Auditorium of the Benalla Seniors and Community Centre. We will have the Recorder Group, the Ukulele Group and the Singing for Fun group entertaining you. There will also be a display by the Patchwork and Craft group. This year there will also be an art display in Room 2 by members of the Taste of Art group. A really special morning. So please bring your friends along to enjoy the morning.
Our end of year lunch will be held on Friday 28th November at 12.30pm at the Benalla Golf Club. For catering purposes can you let Helen Jeffree on 0490 092 267 know if you would like to come. You can choose and pay for your meal on the day. However, we need numbers so we can be seated in one area. So far, we have 37 members and/or partners coming. Hope to see you there too.
Margaret Jenkins
