During June there have been two break-ins at the Benalla Seniors and Community Centre. On Monday 2nd June Helen Jeffree found the side door and the U3A Office door unlocked when she arrived to conduct Exercises for Fun.
Resulting from that break-in U3A Benalla lost the replacement laptop which we had just acquired after the first break in on 29th March. We also lost an HDMI cord, 10 iPads/Samsung tablets and a cash box. Some of these iPads had been purchased in 2015 and 2018 but were still in working condition and had been lent out to members participating in our digital Instruction classes.
On 12th June Ruth Jelliff found the side door open when she arrived to set up for Be Connected. This time all the internal doors were open, and a filing cabinet which belonged to the Senior Citizens was on its side outside our Room 1. The Senior Citizens also lost their desktop computer, and had another filing cabinet damaged so they could not open it.
U3A Benalla lost a speaker which was most unfortunate. The Benalla Police were called on both occasions, and on 12 June termed it a burglary so the Shepparton Police were called to assist with fingerprinting.
We have communicated with Benalla Rural City Council who own this building, and have asked them to upgrade security at the building. As an interim measure the Council have organised twice nightly security visits by Robinsons. In the short term there is an alarm system which will be triggered if a light is not turned on within 60 seconds when someone enters the Benalla Seniors and Community Centre. There is also a 'trail cam' which is being installed in the Auditorium. This will only be looked at for information if there is another break in.
The external lock on the side door which U3A use was changed on 27 June 2025 so that only Convenors with a key can enter. The door will then automatically close shut.
Therefore, we are asking Convenors to switch the front door to AUTO when they come in so that all U3A members can enter by the front door. When Convenors are finishing up from their session, could you please switch the front door to LOCK, and exit by either pressing the green button at the front door or by the side door.
There have been three positive things which have happened during June. The first was that I have received a letter from the Mayor of Benalla informing U3A Benalla that $7,000 will be allocated in the Council Budget 2025-26 for a Masterplan of the Benalla Seniors and Community Centre. When the Budget was passed on 25 June 2025 this figure was upgraded to $10,000 for the Masterplan. This is hopefully the first positive step towards getting more accommodation for U3A Benalla and other community groups at the Benalla Seniors and Community Centre.
The second positive thing to happen in June was that U3A Benalla have been awarded a Quick Response Grant of $500 by Benalla Rural City Council to assist with shelving which we are getting the Benalla Woodworkers to install in our office.
Resulting from that break-in U3A Benalla lost the replacement laptop which we had just acquired after the first break in on 29th March. We also lost an HDMI cord, 10 iPads/Samsung tablets and a cash box. Some of these iPads had been purchased in 2015 and 2018 but were still in working condition and had been lent out to members participating in our digital Instruction classes.
On 12th June Ruth Jelliff found the side door open when she arrived to set up for Be Connected. This time all the internal doors were open, and a filing cabinet which belonged to the Senior Citizens was on its side outside our Room 1. The Senior Citizens also lost their desktop computer, and had another filing cabinet damaged so they could not open it.
U3A Benalla lost a speaker which was most unfortunate. The Benalla Police were called on both occasions, and on 12 June termed it a burglary so the Shepparton Police were called to assist with fingerprinting.
We have communicated with Benalla Rural City Council who own this building, and have asked them to upgrade security at the building. As an interim measure the Council have organised twice nightly security visits by Robinsons. In the short term there is an alarm system which will be triggered if a light is not turned on within 60 seconds when someone enters the Benalla Seniors and Community Centre. There is also a 'trail cam' which is being installed in the Auditorium. This will only be looked at for information if there is another break in.
The external lock on the side door which U3A use was changed on 27 June 2025 so that only Convenors with a key can enter. The door will then automatically close shut.
Therefore, we are asking Convenors to switch the front door to AUTO when they come in so that all U3A members can enter by the front door. When Convenors are finishing up from their session, could you please switch the front door to LOCK, and exit by either pressing the green button at the front door or by the side door.
There have been three positive things which have happened during June. The first was that I have received a letter from the Mayor of Benalla informing U3A Benalla that $7,000 will be allocated in the Council Budget 2025-26 for a Masterplan of the Benalla Seniors and Community Centre. When the Budget was passed on 25 June 2025 this figure was upgraded to $10,000 for the Masterplan. This is hopefully the first positive step towards getting more accommodation for U3A Benalla and other community groups at the Benalla Seniors and Community Centre.
The second positive thing to happen in June was that U3A Benalla have been awarded a Quick Response Grant of $500 by Benalla Rural City Council to assist with shelving which we are getting the Benalla Woodworkers to install in our office.
The third positive thing is that the commercial stove has been installed in the kitchen. U3A Benalla obtained a community grant from the Winton Solar Farm for $3,000 to pay for the stove.
The Council have paid for the range hood and the installation of the stove and the range hood.
There will also be a stainless-steel splashback for the stove, and a shelf adjacent to the stove for putting hot dishes on. These will be installed shortly.
The need for an improved stove in the building became evident to the U3A program committee when planning for the 'Cooking Solo' course in 2024. The stove installation will also assist in making the kitchen a ‘commercial kitchen’.
Communication within U3A Benalla is vital. Therefore, we have looked for an assistant to help Heather Wallace with our Newsletter. I am pleased to announce that Ruth Jelliff has offered to assist Heather with the Newsletter, starting this month.
In a similar way I am happy to announce that Dawn Stephens has offered to assist Bev Lee with the Website. Bev is providing U3A Benalla with a great website and has done so for 11 years. However, keeping the Website up to date is a huge job, and I would like to thank Dawn for offering to assist Bev.
Lastly, a message from our Treasurer, Gwen Mildren. From 20th June 2025 U3A Benalla are no longer able to receive cheques according to the updated banking regulations.
Margaret Jenkins
The Council have paid for the range hood and the installation of the stove and the range hood.
There will also be a stainless-steel splashback for the stove, and a shelf adjacent to the stove for putting hot dishes on. These will be installed shortly.
The need for an improved stove in the building became evident to the U3A program committee when planning for the 'Cooking Solo' course in 2024. The stove installation will also assist in making the kitchen a ‘commercial kitchen’.
Communication within U3A Benalla is vital. Therefore, we have looked for an assistant to help Heather Wallace with our Newsletter. I am pleased to announce that Ruth Jelliff has offered to assist Heather with the Newsletter, starting this month.
In a similar way I am happy to announce that Dawn Stephens has offered to assist Bev Lee with the Website. Bev is providing U3A Benalla with a great website and has done so for 11 years. However, keeping the Website up to date is a huge job, and I would like to thank Dawn for offering to assist Bev.
Lastly, a message from our Treasurer, Gwen Mildren. From 20th June 2025 U3A Benalla are no longer able to receive cheques according to the updated banking regulations.
Margaret Jenkins
