
The Village Green !
This is a space for all U3A
members to send in any contributions they would like to make public -
poems, photos, works of art, general comments, news and views.
We do have a limited amount of space. Vicnet
is very generous in
providing our web space free of charge, but there is a limit and so we
have to keep the offerings fairly small. To cover this space
limit we will move material on about every 2 to 4 weeks (depending on
how much is sent in). We will try to publish all material
TO Submit material: CLICK - seymu3a@vicnet.net.au -
simply type or paste your material into the email or put it in
an attachment to the email. If in doubt ring Bob on 5796 2163.
******************
U3A lost two great members in
2011
ROLF BONACKER and EDDIE MOYLAN
have been members of Seymour and District U3A since just after its formation in
2005. They have both contributed in many
different ways and we are all saddened with their passing this year.
ROLF was born on 29thAugust
1929 and lived most of his early life in England. He supported U3A in
many ways, including: serving on council, singing with Jessica's Corral, leading
the writing group, running a gardening group, contributing vast numbers
of
beautifully made boomerangs which were given to our speakers, assisting
in the
woodwork program and providing a smiling face and lots of interesting
discussion at melting pot and other U3A meetings. Part of his collected
verse can be seen in an item lower down this page. After a
courageous battle
with cancer Rolf died at his home on 5 November 2011.

EDDIE was born at Rushworth on 7
February 1921. In his early days he was a technician with the PMG (Post Master General's Department) and went on to
a senior position in Telecom. He was active in many organisations around
Seymour. U3A was fortunate when he joined soon after the start of Seymour
and District U3A. He served on council for several years, including two years
as Treasurer and a year as Vice-President. He contributed to several U3A courses
and used his technical abilities to assist in the formation and running of the Interconnect
program. Eddie died on 11th July 2011.

Both Rolf and Eddie had a great
sense of humour and enthusiastically joined in fun events as is shown by this photograph of them wearing special hats for a U3A
Melbourne Cup meeting several years ago.
******************************************************
Tales from Pat & Michael travelling
in northern Australia
The weather has
been perfect - cooler nights - one even -4 in the early
stages, but lovely days. Currently in Cairns where nights are warm -
about
15, day 25 - perfect. We have come the long, inland route, via Mt.
Gambier,
Burra, Leigh Creek and up the Oodnadatta track to Birdsville. Lots of
dirt
roads -early morning walks every day, as well as numerous of adventure
walks. Seen some magnificent scenery and "man made" structures of
different
Shires. The money poured into some of the little villages ( one with
only
20 people, another the Shire population is only 600), is just amazing.
Wish
we could get a little of it! In Boulia they have a "Mim Mim" Sound and
Light
show - cost about $4 million, and in Birdsville, they are planning to
spend
$4.5 million on a "dust storm" experience! The Mim Mim show was very
well
done, but very scary as you went through doors and lights went out, and
I
couldn't always find the emergency button - just in case!
Lawn Hill is still magnificent, and many lovely walks - mostly
strenuous,
which helps as we are eating VERY well. Three families take turns at
providing dinners, and when we got to Burketown and Karumba, we had a
couple of delicious barramundi meals at little outdoor casual places.
On to
Cobbold Gorge - a place we hadn't been to before; it comes under
National
Park regulations but is run privately, so some of the area could only
be
accessed by doing a tour - much the same as Undara Lava Tubes, but
there
were plenty of free walks in both places as well. So many different
birds -
all very noisy in some areas! Einasleigh Caravan Park was an experience
we
had all to ourselves. The owner has developed it for his own lifestyle,
and
doesn't want any kids or teenagers! (We passed that test!). There are
only 8
sites, very well kept as it is his back yard. If the town grows when
the
mine opens, (supposed to be soon - but they said that 6 years ago as
well!),
he said he will have to move as it will disturb his peace! He works
part
time for the Shire doing slashing etc. so has use of equipment. This is
the
town with 20 people and only 2 workers according to him. Post Office -
with
residence- is for sale if anyone is interested in parting with $400,000
and
living in the middle of nowhere! After spending a night at Granite
Gorge
with another campfire - one of the nicest spots, we are now in the big
city
of Cairns for a couple of days, and relishing in the fresh fruit, veges
and
bread again. Bananas have been non existent, and other fruit was bought
by
the piece not the KG.
The van is still going, although the 3 tyres that looked good, were not
really up to travelling. Think it must have been left in a paddock for
a
number of years, but now with 3 new ones, and just minor bits falling
off -
all of which are put back or patched up, we are travelling well with
the
dust. Perhaps the 2nd part of this trip will have less "off road"
travelling! I am a bit like the van - a few things a bit worn! Was
trying to
squeeze into a small space to do footy tips at a caravan park internet
as we
had no reception, and "did my back and groin" again, and later had an
unfortunate experience with what I thought was a seat, but apparently
not -
and landed on my backside - hence a very sore coxyx. Also fell flat on
my
face (luckily on grass), in another C.P. Its only pain, and it hasn't
stopped the walks and exploring. Sitting is the worst!
Pat Coffey, August 2011
*******************************************
A small selection
from: "Half a Century and More" - A collection of verse, by Rolf
Bonacker
|
WHO
KNOWS, WHO CARES
So who knows
Which way the wind
blows?
And who cares
What the weather dares?
Winter
sun
Pleases everyone,
Teeming rain
Is the gardeners
gain,
Early roses
Make scented
posies.
Fruit
that's ripe
Feeds birds at
night,
Greedy grub
lives in tiny bud;
Ghost gums bloom
In the heat of
noon,
Stars hang bright
In a silver night,
In the silent dawn
A new day born.
|
THE SPARSE GARDEN
My
garden isn't beautiful
It
isn't very big,
I
only grow what I can eat
And
rarely do I dig.
I
do grow baby carrots
And lovely sweet green peas
And
silver beet is something beaut
When
brushing round my knees.
Spring
onions I like to grow
And
green shallots as well,
I
grow the odd tomato too
I
know the surplus sells.
Of
beans I never have enough
I
eat them every day,
But that's about
the lot I grow
So for the rest I
pay!
|
Education
— A trilogy
|
The
Teacher
I'm
the master of the metaphor
The commander of the comma
I can infiltrate the mindless brain
With smart and clever dogma.
I'm
a genius with geometry
Can compose a bold senarius,
I can teach you trigonometry
And play with numbers various.
No
matter if your brain is sterile
I can pound a pronoun in your head
If you're light on comprehension
I will drill you till you're dead.
I've
taught the so-called rich and famous
Their adverbs and their nouns with vigour
And in their wider world I've taught them
To laugh — and not to snigger.
I'm
the very wizard of a windbag
Propounding knowledge in a stream
And I'll teach you damn near anything
If you listen while you dream.
So, all you rich and
wealthy masters
Who have kids who need instruction
I'm the doyen of the dunce's cap
Lend me their brains – I'll make them function.
|
The parent
My
daughter's very pretty
But young and needs tuition
Please teacher, can you tutor her?
Oh please make that your mission
Please
show her all the graces
That little girls should know
To knit fine babies' jumpers
To stitch a charming bow
To
cook with flair and passion
Italian or Chinese
To roast a haunch of venison
And what to serve with peas.
She
needs to know the dainty things
And how to dress with style
How to pluck her eyebrows neat
To simper and beguile.
I'd
like my girl to win with charm
The most elegant of men
To live a life of happiness
For ever and amen.
But,
I'm afraid the future may
Not be so kind and gracious
Of wealth I have not very much
And men are so rapacious.
Please do your best, I know you will
To educate my daughter
Lead her gently, lead her kind
For I cannot support her.
|
The Pupil
I
go to school each weekday
I'm not too sure what for
The teacher says I'm lazy
And I get whacked until I'm sore.
I
knows how to wash a car
And dig a garden bed
Teacher says I'll never earn
Cash to buy my daily bread.
Parenthesis
I cannot use
To fill and empty belly
What's the use of algebra
When sitting watching telly?
I
know that one and one make two
That mutton comes from sheep
That boots is made for walking
And me bed is where I sleep.
The
rest I reckon useless
Just.fills me head with crap
Me hands can fix a motor
And me fists can win a scrap.
So keep your fancy knowledge,
I knows just what I need
To count me daily dollars
And to get a reg'lar feed.
|
©
rolf bonacker
**************************************************************