UPPER NORTH REGION NEWSLETTER DECEMBER 2015 MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OUR MEMBERS FROM THE PRESIDENT AND COMMITTEE OF UPPER NORTH U3A Another fabulous year of courses and events run by U3A is coming to a close. The 2016 Course Book and Events will be ready in the middle of January. A copy will be sent to all members and will be available on the website. Check out our new-look website which was launched earlier in the year, www.sydneyu3a.org UPPER NORTH S AGM Upper North s Annual General Meeting was held on the 9 November at Turramurra Uniting Church. A crowd of over 60 heard Upper North s President Alan Barge welcome all members and extend a special welcome to Sydney U3A Vice-President (Education), Ian Thompson and Vice-President (Public Relations), Mike Goodwin. President Beverley Peken was unable to attend and sent her apologies. He thanked the Upper North Committee for their excellent work throughout the year. He also gave a special thanks to Roger Link
and Gerald Sabel for their continued technical and creative expertise. Claudine Parr and Marilyn Pryor were thanked for organising the refreshments for the AGM. Treasurer, Liz McAllister reported that the Upper North Region had had a good year financially and had kept within budget. Ian Thompson then gave an interesting lecture on the origins of U3A as well as a presentation of UNR statistics prepared by Barbara Sabel. Grahame Marr (on behalf of the whole committee) thanked outgoing president Alan Barge for his tireless work as President for U3A Upper North over the last three years. Margot Taverne, as returning officer, confirmed the election of the 2016 Upper North Sub-committee. President: Grahame Marr. Treasurer: Liz McAllister. Committee Members: Douglas Milne, Barbara Sabel, Claudine Parr; Sue Shaw, Marilyn Pryor, Pauline Holbrook, Roslyn Markham and Clive Finch. A delicious lunch was then served. Committee members, Claudine Parr, Liz McAllister and Pauline Holbrook welcome members to the meeting. Newly elected President Grahame Marr makes a presentation to outgoing President Alan Barge
Ian Thompson, Vice President (Education) gave an interesting lecture on the origins of U3A and presented statistics on U3A membership prepared by Barbara Sabel. Committee members, Marilyn Pryor, Claudine Parr and Barbara Sabel helped to serve refreshments for the AGM. LECTURES IN DECEMBER KILLARA LOURDES RETIREMENT VILLAGE 152NR01 HISTORICAL AND OTHER INTERESTING TOPICS Thursday 3 December. History of the Royal Albert Hall, Rosemary McCulloch. 95 Stanhope Road, Killara. Meetings held in Village Auditorium. Bookings not required. 10:00 12:00. ST IVES UNITING CHURCH 152NI07 SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY: GLIMPSES OF OUR PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE Wednesday 9 December, Cancer Treatment Update, Dr Jayamanne 10:00-12:00. Bookings: Doug Milne 9487 2853, milnedk@live.com.au Corner Douglas Street and Mona Vale Road, St Ives.
During the recent Upper North Region Annual General Meeting, Margot Taverne read out a poem she had written about being a member of U3A. U3A I am old and should slow down now, so they say: Sit in an easy chair, like them, relax my painful knee and aching back. But I have no time for that I want to fill my life, Do all the things I could not do before. I want to learn new things, exciting things I never even heard of. There is so much to choose: should I learn Spanish? Or learn about the music I love but do not understand? A science group so much there will amaze me. I d like to write, for fun and for my family, I want to... oh! The choices are so varied and so vast! Why don t I want their friendship? So they ask me, And join them with their painful knees and aching backs. They offer me a biscuit and a cup of tea And talk about their ailments. But I have no time for that, I want to live my life. We also have a cup of tea, we, members of the group. We also talk, but not about our ailments. We talk about the course, of interesting things, with sparkling eyes. Perhaps we re old in years, but are forever young. And we do more: instead of learning only, We can be leaders and teach what we know best: Let other members share in what fills us with passion. We are rewarded by their enthusiastic feedback And by the broadening of their minds. And so we also learn. I have no time to waste, no time to kill, And I feel sorry for those sitting there, Those, who nurse their painful knees, their aching backs. I wonder why they will not be like me, Who found new life with U3A.
STILL A MYSTERY (To reveal the mystery would spoil the trip for other members.) A thoroughly excellent day was had by U3A members who joined a mystery trip of Ku-ring-gai historical sites on the 23 November. The sun shone, the commentary by Jo Harris of the Ku-ring-gai Historical Society on the history of the area was fascinating and the mystery lunch was delicious. What more could you ask. A special thanks to our driver, Bruce from Community Transport and Yvette from the Historical Society. Newsletter editor: Susan Shaw ssh84119@bigpond.net.au Design & production: Roger Link roger.link94@gmail.com