A newsletter for U3A Members

To The Editor:
I am a relatively new U3A tutor and I would like to tell you about this very rewarding and enriching experience.

I retired in 2006, after spending 30 years involved in education as a Secondary teacher. I was very much aware that I would need to reinvent myself after so many years being involved with a school community but I felt that I would like to move away from teaching adolescents. It was at this time that I first learned of the U3A. Towards the end of the year the Berwick branch of the U3A held an open day as part of Seniors‘ Week. I decided that I would go along to find out what it was all about and to offer my time as a tutor.

I arrived at Fiddler‘s Green with no idea about what to expect. I was unsure about whether what I had to offer would be of any interest to them and I wasn‘t sure if there would be anybody with time to talk to me. However, as soon as I walked into the foyer I was greeted in a most friendly and encouraging way. Everything had been organized, by the time I left that day. It had been agreed that I would run a two hour session each week on English Literature - providing that there were enough people to form a group.

We started with a group of five in 2007 and by this year it had grown to ten. I wake up every Tuesday morning with a feeling of pleasant anticipation because I enjoy the sessions so much. I would like at this point to publicly acknowledge the work of my group this year. They are committed, enthusiastic, willing to contribute and they have a wealth of life experiences to bring to bear in discussion of the texts. They are all, without exception, talented, creative people in their own right. They never fail, at the end of each session, to thank me and show their appreciation for my efforts. I feel that I have received more thanks while running one session a week for three years, that I have for the whole of the other thirty years put together! Believe me teenagers are not into giving their teachers much positive reinforcement. So given the choice between tutoring Seniors or Secondary School students - there would be no contest!

Finally, I would like to encourage any reader who has a skill, a talent, a hobby or an interest, that they would be prepared to share with others, to do something about it. Get outside your comfort zone because I am sure that you, like me, will find it a most rewarding and enriching experience. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain!

Joan McKinnon Casey - English Literature Tutor
Casey U3A (Berwick Victoria) 29th June 2009

Letter from Nillumbik U3A

Sabi Beuhler~President~Nillumbik U3A

Despite the dramatic start, Nillumbik U3A is growing and serving an important role in maintaining a sense of normality‘ in the community and I wish to acknowledge the support and encouragement from other U3As who have helped us and our community in various ways.

Special thanks must go to members of Dandenong U3A who knitted scarves and hats which are now being distributed to fire-affected families via the Nillumbik Women‘s Network and a local Baptist Church, Forster Toncurry in NSW who have offered free accommodation to anyone (not only Nillumbik) who needs a break after the stress of the fires, Whittlesea U3A is giving free membership to U3A members hit by the fires and Nunawading is planning a U3A concert benefit and U3A Online has been most generous in giving us some courses which will be a great help next term as we are very short of Tutors. It is very rewarding to to be able to make a contribution towards the well-being of our community in difficult times.

How do you get a copy of the Newsletter?

A copy is distributed to Member U3As and individuals
may subscribe at no cost for four issues/year.
Send your name and address to:
U3A Network-Victoria, Eighth Floor, 341 Queen Street, Melbourne 3000

Click here for a PDF version of the June 2009 edition