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SYNOPSES OF COURSES AND ACTIVITIES
COURSES AND ACTIVITIES IN SEMESTER 2, 2011
Venues and Meeting Places
Courses held in W4 at the Centre unless
otherwise stated.
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Armchair Traveller
(contact John Avery 5762 1818)
3rd Tuesday, 11.45 a.m. - 1.45 p.m, February, April and
June. CW4
An opportunity to share your traveller's tales with others and to hear
theirs, however inspiring or hair-raising. 3 sessions are planned
this semester.
Art Appreciation
(contact Joan Jones 5762 1529)
1st Monday 10.00 a.m. - 11.00 a.m. Benalla Gallery
The group meets the first Monday of each month at the Benalla Art
Gallery where the Director, Simon Klose or other members of the gallery
staff will discuss items in the gallery's collection, special
exhibitions, art genres etc. The group occasionally organizes trips to
other galleries.
Astronomy
(contact Brian Chandler 5763 3395)
1st and 3rd Fridays, 11.45 - 1.45 CW4
Using some of the new computer equipment purchased by U3A Benalla and a
computer program which Brian Chandler has, it is possible to
"view the night sky" of the day at daytime meetings. This assists
members of the group to get to know the sky features.
Weather permitting we meet occasionally for real-time viewing of the
stars or whenever there are particular features worth looking at.
It is not necessary to have your own telescope as some are available
within the group but in any case much of the night sky can be viewed
satisfactorily using binoculars.
Book Group
(contact Helen Scheller 5762 3937)
1st Tuesday 10.00 a.m. - 12 noon CW4
This group is enrolled as a CAE Book Group and meets on the first
Tuesday of the month using books selected by CAE from our list
of 25 preferences nominated each November. CAE fees apply.
Brain Games
(contact Elspeth Maconachie 5762 1700)
3rd Tuesday 2.00 p.m. - 4.00 p.m. CW4
Use a set of quizzes to gauge your left and right brain abilities, then
have fun with a range of exercises and puzzles while honing skills.
These include numbers, words, shapes and sequences as well as logic,
creativity and lateral thinking.
Bush Walking
(contact Heather Sloan 5762 4777)
2nd Wednesday all day - meet in Centre Car Park
Walks are organised by the Benalla Bushwalking Club Inc. and are held on
the second Wednesday of each month, weather permitting.
These walks are suitable for the retired person of reasonable fitness.
U3A members wishing to go on these walks need to join the
Benalla Bushwalking Club for insurance purposes. Membership fees at
present are Single $30, Family $40.
We pool cars and share transport costs.
Chat n' Chew Lunch Group
(contact Shirley Kearney 5762 6768)
3rd Friday 11.45 - 1.45 various locations in Benalla
This group meets once a month at one of Benalla's many “eateries” for
good nosh and a natter. A very popular activity and all
U3A members welcome.
Digital Photography
(contact John Avery 5762 1818)
March/April, Friday 2.00 - 4.00 p.m.
An introduction to the basics of digital photography, including use of
the camera, menus and manual; storing and editing photos on computers.
Easy Bike Rides
(contact Alan Marquand 5762 2175)
2nd Thursday 8.00 a.m.
A small but enthusiastic group that takes rides around Benalla and
environs. For those who are more interested in the view than the pace.
They would like more to join in and enjoy the ride. All you need is a
bike (and a helmet of course).
Easy Walks
(contact Beth Hall 5762 3523)
1st Wednesday all day. April start. The Centre Car Park
This activity aims to provide gentle exercise and companionship as we
explore the town and bush not too far from Benalla.
The day begins with a shared morning tea on arrival at the venue, about
five kilometres of walk on formed tracks within easy access
of roads in case this is needed and finishes with lunch together. We
carpool and share fuel costs.
Film and Literature
(contact Tricky Stuart 5762 1155)
2nd & 4th Wednesday 2.00 - 4.00 p.m.
This year we will be tying in more literature connected to films, so
there will be quite a bit of reading to do in between our fortnightly
sessions. Three films and books that we will cover in semester one are
"Angela's Ashes", "Sense and Sensibility", and "Little Women".
"Angela's Ashes" stars Emma Watson and Robert Carlyle and is directed by
Alan Parker. "Little Women" is directed by Australian
director Gillian Armstrong and stars Winona Ryder and Susan Sarandon,
and "Sense and Sensibility" stars Alan Rickman, Hugh Grant,
Kate Winslet and the wonderful Emma Thompson. But first, we'll start
with a film that has no connection to a book - Alfred Hitchcock's
thriller "Rear Window" starring Grace Kelly and James Stewart. You may
have seen these films before, but they are certainly worth
re-visiting with a more critical eye. A trip to Melbourne is planned
in April to visit the ACMI museum in Federation Square.
We would welcome a few new members this year.
Games
(contact Su Hughes 5762 5175) 
2nd & 4th Tuesday 2.00 - 4.00 p.m. CW4
These are indoor games of the non physical variety. Currently there is
a Solo group, a Chess group, and a Scrabble group, but we
look forward to adding other games such as Mahjong, or other card games
if enough people are interested. We have an enthusiastic
crossword solver just waiting to show you how to make sense of those
enigmatic cryptic clues that leave most of us feeling clueless.
Garden Appreciation
(contact Ruth Marquand 5762 2175) 
4th Thursday all day. The Centre Car Park
We meet once a month to visit gardens in our area and sometimes further
afield. Gardens range from private gardens to Botanic Gardens
such as Melbourne and Albury. We have also visited Ripponlea, the
Victorian Rose Garden at Werribee Park and other special gardens.
Garden Team
(contact Elspeth Maconachie 5762 1700)
2nd Thursday 1.00 p.m. Meet at The Centre and car pool.
The group will meet from 1 p.m. at a team members garden to undertake
various tasks. We might prune, turn the compost or sweep
a path then have a cuppa, chat and go home with new inspiration or even
a cutting. Each team member must be able to contribute
something whether expertise in re-potting, the stamina to kneel and
weed, or dead-heading just a few flowers but bringing a tasty
cake for afternoon tea. If the weather is inclement , too cold, wet or
hot we might gather just to tidy a fernery, show a garden video
and share a favourite garden book.
Imagining India
(contact Terry Case 5762 1700)
2nd and 4th
Tuesday 11.45 - 1.45 CW4
In Semester 1 we will be looking at the rise of Indian Nationalist
Parties after WW1 and the fight for Freedom from British rule.
The course will encompass some armchair travel and documentaries of past
and present topics as we travel from Bombay to Delhi
following the protagonists of this period of this period. The second
hour of most sessions will be devoted to the dvd's of The
Raj Quartet which tells the story from the view of a British army family
living in India during this period. The Raj Quartet is based
on Paul Scott's brilliant novels of this period and the BBC series won
much acclaim when it went to air; it remains a treat!
Investment
(contact Graham Mitchell 5762 1972)
3rd Tuesday 9.30 - 11.30 a.m.
Each month all members select a stock to purchase with a stop-loss and
take profit to determine how (monopoly) money can be won
or lost when trading.
Lifeball
(contact Betty Legg 5763 2268)
Every Monday (90 minutes) Indoor Recreation Centre Ackerley Avenue
9.30 Feb/March/April. 1.15 p.m. May/June
This is a game adapted from basketball and suitable for all ages and
abilities and has regular and enthusiastic participants.
For those who think that competitive sport is now beyond you this is the
game for you.
Mao
to Now (contact Terry Case 5762 1700
and Helen Scheller 5762 3937)
4th Tuesday 10. a.m. to 11.30 a.m. CW4
The Course will run over 2 years. In 2011 we will investigate the fall
of the Manchu dynasty, the 1911 Revolution, Chiang and Mao
as rival leaders, Civil War, war against the Japanese, the defeat of
Chiang and the KMT. The second part of the year will focus on
early years of the Communist government, foreign policy issues such as
Taiwan, and the Korean War.
Tibet and the Sino-Soviet split are on the agenda. We will continue
with Mao's disastrous Great Leap Forwards and if time permits
a study of the Cultural Revolution.
Meet
and Mingle
(contact Noel Meagher (
5762 3149)
3rd Wednesday 10.00 - 12 noon CW4
This is a general social gathering of members to have morning tea, a
chat, and always an interesting guest speaker.
It is not a formal business meeting but a short time will be allocated
for news from the Executive and program groups.
All members welcome, no need to enrol.
Music Appreciation
(contact Marjorie Geeson 5762 2162)
2nd and 4th Friday 10.00 - 12.00 CW4
If you enjoy listening to and discussing classical music in a relaxed
atmosphere this might be the group for you. The great classics
of the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries
are played on CD and augmented with informed comment by the music loving
Denzil Mortimer.
And if you would like to know more about Beethoven, Mozart and their ilk
then you would like this group.
Patchwork
(contact Heather Sloan 5762 4777) 
1st and 3rd Thursday 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. The Hub,
Cooinda.
Participants provide their own fabric and
sewing aids. Members will make a lap quilt using various
techniques - patchwork,
applique, and embroidery. Smaller items and new techniques will also be
covered at times. These can be made either by hand
or machine. List of requirements will be available on enrolment.
Politics
and Current Affairs
(Contact Terry
Case 5762 1700)
2nd Tuesday 10.00 a.m. - 11.30 a.m. CW4
As well as keeping an eye on local, State and Federal politics, we will
be broadening our interests into global issues like the
Great Financial Crisis and its aftermath, global warming, immigration
and refugee policies and whatever else comes up.
Railways
(contact Bill Dewing 5762 5883)
1st & 5th Tuesday 2.00 p.m. - 4.00 p.m. CW4
Covers Australian and North American subjects in great depth. Generally
each session starts with small films of railway news,
then the day's subject is presented in depth. Information sheets are
handed out. After our coffee break a DVD or video, generally
on the subject discussed, will be shown. 
Singing
for Fun (contact Joyce Borschmann 5762
5013)
1st & 3rd Thursday 10.00 - 12 noon, Baptist
Church, 57 Bridge Street West)
The only criteria for joining this group
is that you like singing. You do not need to be able to read music. We
sing for fun and we
find it a great sharing experience. A harmony group meets separately.
Towards
a Sustainable Future
(contact John
Lloyd 5765 2476)
1st and 3rd Friday 9.30 a.m. - 11.30 a.m. CW4
The human impact on our planet has, in
recent times, become the concern of governments and ordinary people
world wide and has
resulted in many questions about the sustainability of our present
lifestyle. This course aims to explore topics such as global warming,
abrupt environmental changes, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, clean
energy options, the challenge of population growth,
sustainable use of resources and various lifestyle issues. Our sessions
during the year will examine different aspects of these
major topics with a focus on looking towards a sustainable future.
Wine
Appreciation (contact Noel Meagher
5762 3149 and Heather Rogers 5762 4086)
4th Wednesday all day. The Centre car park.
This group meets monthly for a trip to explore the wineries of the North
East and learn more about the varieties of wines and the people who make
them. We meet once a month on the fourth Wednesday gathering at The
Centre for car pooling. Lunch is also part of the excursion sometimes
at a local pub and other times somewhere a bit grander.
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