N E W S L E T T E RN E W S L E T T E R

ABN 42 123 530 408 Reg No A00193187 Issue 170, Jan - Mar 2019

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VICE prEsIdEnt’s rEport2018 ended with a bang with one of our major events, the Volunteers’ Lunch at the Safety Beach Yacht Club. This is held at the end of each year to thank our volunteers for all the time and effort they put into our organisation. The SBYC caterers supplied a scrumptious lunch while our musi-cally gifted members provided sing-along entertainment. Certificates of Appreciation were presented by Councillor Antonella Celli to retiring volunteers. The event is free for all invitees and was well attended by tutors/activity leaders, office staff, committee members and other volunteers who have generously donated their time and skills to U3ASP during the year.

2019 is upon us and we celebrate our thirtieth year of operation! What a tremen-dous success U3ASP has become! We now have a program of over 100 courses and activities of all varieties; social, educational, technological as well as fitness for both mind and body. Nearly 800 members have shown their interest and support by enrolling in our organisation. A number of members have stepped up to offer over twenty new courses and activities this year. What an achievement!

Finding accommodation for all the courses requiring rooms was a significant chal-lenge, and whilst we have gained access to some new venues (including Mt Martha House and Rye Senior Citizens Hall and The Briars), more are needed so if you know of a suitable location please let our Course Coordinators know.

The southern region of the Mornington Peninsula is one of the fastest growing retire-ment areas in Victoria so if you have a friend or neighbour, please tell them about U3ASP and invite them to join.

Recently I received a brochure on the courses and activities run by the Council of Adult Education. Their courses cost between $99 and $299 for just one day whilst ongoing courses and activities cost up to $425 per term. How lucky we are to have our U3A!

The three to five year plan has been reviewed following the end of 2018. We are pleased to have achieved a good number of our objectives and look forward achieving more in the future.

U3A sp is grateful for the funding support provided by:Volunteers Lunch: 28th November 2018 Photos Courtesy: Barry Mills

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Those objectives include:

(a) Getting more members willing to assist the committee and office management, in order to become familiar with the roles and activities so they can fill these positions in the future

(b) Having class/activity assistants who can eventually run the course, as additional or take over leaders when the current leader retires

(c) Finding additional suitable accommodation

(d) Getting those members on waiting lists into courses.

This year we are looking to trial the use of digitally recording course presentations that can be viewed by members at a later date from our website. To do this we need to find tutors who are willing to have their presentations recorded. If we are successful in achieving this, these presentations could be made available to all U3A members throughout

the Victorian U3A Network.

The year is off to a great start thanks to the generosity of our tutors/activity leaders in volunteering to run their courses and the tremendous efforts by our Course Coordinators in timetabling and creating accommodation, as well as our very busy office staff, IT people and others assisting in handling the member registration process.

I would especially like to thank our committee member, Teena Daley, for volunteering to set up our new U3ASP Facebook page. This is another way of attracting new members as well as giving existing members a forum for posting their feedback online.

Australia Day was a fine day, attracting the crowds for the celebrations on the Dromana foreshore. These included live music (that induced some of our representatives to shake their booty!), the flag-raising ceremony, a speech by former TV weather presenter on the loss of our native wildlife, kids entertainment, food stalls and, of course, stalls representing various commercial and local organisations including U3ASP. There was enough interest in enrolment promoted by our volunteers providing information on all our activities to make the day well worthwhile.

Annual General MeetingWednesday 27th March 2019 at 11am

dromana Community Hall

• Vote in our new committee representatives • Interesting guest speaker (to be advised)

• Delicious light lunch supplied

FURTHER INFORMATION INCLUDING NOMINATION FORMS WILL BE EMAILED, POSTED OR AVAILABLE ON REQUEST TO MEMBERS.

Australia Day celebrations, Dromana foreshore: Photos Courtesy: Jim Carr & Rosy Apakian

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our AnnUAL GEnErAL MEEtInG will be held on Wednesday 27th March at the dromana Community Hall.

Other than voting in our 2019 committee members, there will be an interesting guest speaker (to be advised), an update from a Mornington Peninsula council representative, and our catering team will provide the usual tasty treats.

(Nomination forms and information will be emailed to members or available in hard copy by request). There are no other U3A activi-ties that day so please try to attend and have your say.

I hope all our members take advantage of all we offer, and I wish you a happy, healthy and productive 2019.

Lee Chapman Vice President (Acting President)

CoUrsE CoordInAtors rEport

For full course information, check UMAS (U3A Membership Administration System) or contact the office (details are under CONTACT on the last page of this newsletter).

Welcome back for another year of U3A with lots of exciting and new actives and courses on offer and we especially welcome all our new members and new tutors/activity leaders.

2018 was the first year of course coordination for me, Sue Dixon and Marg DeJong and what a very busy time we have had. We encountered lots of new learning curves but we have had the pleasure of speaking to many of our new members, and long chats with our new tutors.

Please check our courses to see which still have vacancies. A list was sent out late in January of courses we would like to fill. We are also busy working out ways to reduce course wait lists.

We are If you have over committed yourself to courses, please review and let the office now if you wish to withdraw, because like all of us retired people, we do seem to be a bit time poor.

I hope you will continue to enjoy the courses and activities led by our dedicated team of volunteer leaders. Do check out courses on our website or contact the office (5981 8777 or email: office@u3asouthpen.org.au) for the details.

nEW CoUrsEs JUst LIstEd

Croquet For Beginners

Here’s something new to challenge you and provide you with lots of fun. The traditional game of Association Croquet is a clever game of skill and gentle exercise in the beautiful surroundings of the Heritage croquet lawn at The Briars Homestead, Mt. Martha.

A detailed coaching program is conducted by Lewis and Maureen Gordon, accredited croquet coaches, and all equipment is provided.

Students are required to wear flat shoes and a hat for sun protection. A $5 weekly green fee is payable to the Tutor.

Each Thursday morning 10.00 – 11.00am starting 21st Feb for 6 Weeks.

For further Information contact Lewis or Maureen on 0407598288 or email maulew@bigpond.com.

EXCItInG opportUnItY For A U3A MEMBEr

We have been invited by the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council to nominate a representative for their “Positive Aging Strategy Committee”.

If you believe that you have the communication skills and an insight into the the needs of our senior community members, this is a great opportunity to be involved in the council’s deci-sion making process, providing outcomes for older people on the Mornington Peninsula.

You will need to be available for the following council meeting dates: 14 March, 13 June, 19 September and 5 December.

The Committee is chaired by Councillor Antonella Celli.

If you are interested, please contact Lee Chapman: leechap9tpg.com.au

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rEALItY rEAds

This is the book group for lovers of non-fiction, a genre defined by Wikipedia as “expository, argumentative, functional, and opinion pieces; essays on art or literature; biographies; memoirs; journalism; and historical, scientific, technical, or economic writings.” How dull this sounds when we know the delights and challenges within the covers of such works!

Monthly Tuesday mornings, 10.00-12.00pm starting 5th February (long course) at the Briars.

For further information contact Di Bell on 0438 892 829 or diane.bell@gmail.com.

ArE YoU A WIZZ on tHE IpHonE or IpAd?

If so, please help some of our U3A Members conquer their Apple devices. Contact: courses@u3asouthpen.org.au, if you can help out.

Course Coordinators: Rosalie Arnold, Sue Dixon & Marg de Jong

CoUrsE/ACtIVItY nEWsHIstorY LUnCHEs

Do you enjoy listening to an entertaining, informed speaker? Have an interest in things historical? Enjoy a shared luncheon with a friendly group?

If so, the U3A History Lunches group is for you. We meet on the second Thursday of the month between February and November in the Craft Centre at the Village Glen. We share a ‘bring-a-plate’ luncheon before listening to our guest speaker.

Speakers come from diverse backgrounds and present on a wide variety of historical and general interest subjects. Visitors are always welcome but if you wish to attend on a regular basis you will need to join U3A Southern Peninsula.

Coming up:

14 February: Commander John Goss: H.M.A.S. Cerberus: The Cradle of the Navy

14 March: Liz Eccles-Smith: Mulberry Hill

11 April: Ian Thompson: Port Phillip Paddle Steamer

For further information contact Marianne 0402 435 842 or 5982 0108.

Marianne Punshon Course Leader

tHE UsE oF EMotIonAL FrEEdoM tECHnIQUEs For CHronIC pAIn

A four session course beginning at 2-4 p.m from Friday 8th February and ending on 1st March.

Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) involves tapping on the acupunc-ture (meridian) points with the fingers at the same time as thinking about the pain. Acupuncture points have been found using CT imaging which show a distinct appearance of the points which have more micro-blood vessels and a higher particle oxygen pressure than other points. Cortisol levels in the body are reduced as the person using the tech-nique becomes more relaxed. This releases stress, the muscles relax and physical and emotional pain is lessened.

Dutch research found that negative emotions affected the perception of pain. In another study, researchers found pain was relieved when treated with Cognitive Behaviour Therapy where patients were able to vent any negative emotions. Emotional Freedom technique also does the same, but works more quickly. Both methods are safe and painless, and both will be offered.

EFT only uses the fingertips, combined with speaking, which works just as well. Because EFT works successfully with a range of conditions, I am wondering whether there would be any interest in using it with weight management for a group in September or October. If you are interested in this, please let the office know.

Other helpful information about pain will also be provided in the class. If you’d like to try EFT for your chronic pain, please register.

Kathleen Crawford: Tutor

U3A Southern Peninsula has once again opened a Facebook page.

Teena Daley will be the administrator for this so if you would like to post something please forward it to:

teenadaley@hotmail.com.

You can of course comment on anything that is posted. Teena will post photos, news and articles of interest.

Access our Facebook by clicking on the Facebook symbol on the U3A web page or searching on Facebook for

U3A Southern Peninsula.

GrEAt nEWs For ALL FACEBooK FAns

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tHIs IssUE’s FEAtUrEd MEMBErpEtEr norMAn

Peter is a member with outstanding experience and credentiials in Astrology. Having shared the limelight in this field with other experts, in retirement and despite his blindness, he is sharing his interest and knowledge with U3ASP and U3A Mornington members as a tutor. - Editor

I was born in Adelaide as the eldest of four children to two young teachers. After completing my primary education in Ceduna, we returned to Adelaide where I later began attending a technical high school.

In 1947 we moved to Melbourne where I later won a scholarship to become a science teacher, which enabled me to study physics at Melbourne University. Sadly, we were never taught astronomy!

In 1957 , as the science teacher at Casterton High School, I received a request from the Astronomical Society of Victoria to report details of any auroras sighted because the sun was due to

be stormy that year. For the same reason, Russia launched the first spacecraft, Sputnik, which was accidentally detected by a new radio-telescope in England. These events began the space-race, radio-astronomy and my interest in astronomy.

President Eisenhower immediately ordered the modernising of all science and math text books. He also established NASA and made all their space movies freely available to all secondary schools of Western allies.

While teaching physics at University High School in 1958, I took groups of students to Melbourne Observatory to see the stars of our universe. The school bought a telescope and I started an Astronomy club.

In 1960, Doreen and I married and moved to Mornington. Our eldest daughter, Anne, trained to be a music teacher but upon visiting Japan she replaced her flute with a more subtle shakuhuchi which she has used ever since in all Australian states and many places overseas. Daughter, Cathy studied at university to become a physical education teacher before marrying Simon, an engineer. They have a lovely daughter Sarah. Our son David, qualified as a designer-builder. He has been very busy designing and project managing the construction of new houses, or extensions to houses, medical centers, hotels and schools. David is the parent of our grandchildren, Ellie, Archie and Annabelle.

Together Doreen and I have enjoyed swimming, sailing, hiking and camping earlier in our lives, but now we enjoy gentle gardening, concerts, operas, ballets, galleries, museums, libraries, lectures and discussion groups. We have often travelled overseas in the past, but these days we only travel in Australia by train, plane or bus rather than car.

I have always been curious as to how everything works, both natural and manufactured things. As a young teacher I was surprised to find how cheerful and happy the vast majority of people are to learn. For this reason I am very disappointed with all three levels of government for encouraging the rapid growth of night clubs on the Peninsula. They not only increase binge drinking but also opportunities for the sale of addictive drugs which result in proliferation of poverty, violence, crime, homelessness and hungry children who need to be fed at school before they are able to learn anything. To add insult to injury, most governments are encouraging the privatisation of educa-tion and reducing expenditure on state education. No wonder the cost of health and gaols increases rapidly and the educa-tional standards are declining!

Our greatest joy and achievement in life has been to share the last 58 years of our lives together, much of it with our children and grandchildren.

I began lecturing science and astronomy at Frankston Teachers College in 1971 and made my own telescope when I joined the Astronomical Society of Frankston. I became the president of that society for thirteen years, during which time we set up an observa-tory in the college grounds for the Astronomical Society.

Peter in 1977: Renaissance astrologer prior to a party of post graduate students of Renaissance studies

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When the college was taken over by the Caulfield Institute of Tech-nology, I was obliged to update my qualifications. The research was more successful than expected and I gained a Doctor of Philosophy in Physics. By then Monash University was our boss and I spent the last ten years of work as a Senior Physics Lecturer there.

One of our interesting activities in recent times was to join a group of wet-suited swimmers on a launch at Ningerloo Reef in W.A. A whale-shark is about ten meters long and breathes like a shark, always staying underwater they can only be clearly seen if you are also underwater, breathing through a snorkel. This is made easier because the shark eats like a whale, simply filter-feeding krill in the surface water as it slowly cruises along. Fortunately they ignore people! When the crew saw a whale-shark coming we jumped into the sea and watched through our masks as it swam slowly past.

I gradually became legally blind thirty years ago because of a genetic disorder, however, with much help from Vision Australia, I was able to continue working full time until the normal retirement age.

During 1993, U3ASP asked our Astronomy Society if any member would volunteer to tutor an astronomy class for eight weeks. I agreed, provided students came to my home in Mornington as I could no longer drive a car. Since 1993 it has been my privilege and pleasure to share astronomy with members of U3ASP and U3AM to whom I am grateful.

I am particularly grateful to U3ASP member, Don Leggett, who has not only driven me to monthly meetings of the Mornington Peninsula Astronomical Society, but he has been personally responsible for relocating the observatory from Frankston to the Briars where it is very popular. Appropriately, that building now bears his name. There is now a public viewing night on the first Friday of every month, at the Briars, with an average attendance of around 120 people, with a lecture and viewing from twenty tele-scopes provided. In addition, the society provides viewing nights for schools and clubs.

Recently a legally blind U3ASP member aged 96, completed the astronomy course! He was a delightful gentleman. As a new member of U3A you will make many friends of all ages. My best advice comes from Winston Churchill: ‘Never, ever give up!’

Peter Norman Astrology Tutor

1980: The telescope Peter made for the astronomy course

As a service to U3ASP members, your committee has decided to publish information about the latest scams in each newsletter to keep you up to date and aware of these insidious phone, door-to-door, postal and internet issues. We are appreciative of this service to the community from the ACCC. Further material is sourced from consumer watchdog Choice magazine and Choice Community website.

Anyone can register on scamwatch.gov.au. to receive email alerts re the latest scams, or just check out their website. If you come across a suspi-cious encounter of any sort, please report it to the ACCC by phone or email: www.scamwatch.gov.au/about-scamwatch/contact-us.

LAtEst sCAMs

sopHIstICAtEd HACKErs tArGEtInG BUsInEssEs’ EMAILs•

Scamwatch is calling on businesses to urgently review how they verify and pay accounts and invoices as reports of business email compro-mise (BEC) scams to Scamwatch have grown by a third this year.

BEC scams occur when a hacker gains access to a business’s email accounts, or ‘spoof’ a business’s email so their emails appear to come from the company. The hacker then sends emails to customers claiming that the business’s banking details

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have changed and that future invoices should be paid to a new account. These emails look legitimate as they come from one of a business’s official email accounts. Payments then start to flow into the hacker’s account.

In other variations of the scam, the hacker will send an email inter-nally to a business’s accounts team, pretending to be the CEO, asking for funds to be urgently transferred to an off-shore account. Hackers can also request salary or rental payments be directed to a new account.

Scamwatch has even received reports of the hackers intercepting house deposits that have been sent to conveyancers, real estate agents or law firms.

It’s a scam that targets all kinds of businesses, including charities and local sporting clubs. There is a misconception these scams target just small business, however the largest amount of reports and losses came from medium sized businesses, including one that lost more than $300,000.

Businesses have reported losses to these scams totalling $2.8 million to Scamwatch in 2018. However, this represents only a fraction of total losses to this variety of scam across Australia. Effective manage-ment procedures can go a long way towards preventing scams, so all businesses should firstly be aware these scams exist and that their staff know about them. They should also check directly with their supplier if they notice a change in account details.

Businesses affected by BEC scams should contact their financial institution immediately and consider professional IT advice to ensure their email systems and data are secure from hackers.

CoMpEtItIon sCAMs•

Online competitions that offer the chance to win a holiday to Fiji, an iPad or a $1000 shopping spree, sound enticing, but how many of these promotions are actually genuine and what hidden dangers lurk among them?

Choice magazine advises that when entering a game or competition, check for an Australian permit number to make sure it’s above board.

Check the terms and conditions to confirm it’s being proffessionally run, that you meet the criteria for entry and how your information will be used. Personal information obtained may be used and sent out to third parties and then used for advertising and marketing purposes. Make sure that the prize covers all expenses such as airfares and accommodation, as well as expiry dates for travel.

Opt out of receiving email for future promotions and marketing conditions if possible.

If you don’t know the listed promoter then be careful what data you share. Some will on-sell data legally.

Never supply passwords, bank details or unneces-sary personal information for a competition.

FUrtHEr tIps to HELp AVoId BEInG A VICtIM

If you are dealing with eBay, scammers may try to lure you into • dealing with them outside that platform. By doing so, they can avoid eBay protection and you’re unlikely to see your item or your money again.

Only deal with suppliers you trust and check up on retailers by • searching for on-line reviews. Search complaint registers with the ACCC or Fair Trading.

Watch out for fake retailer websites. These may look genuine until • it’s time to check out. If you are asked to pay in an unusual way, eg. Wire transfer or money order/preloaded money card, DON’T PAY.

If you have a suspicious email from a large corporation, check • the email address. You can do this by hovering your cursor over the senders email address or clicking ‘see details’. If these don’t resemble the corporation’s name, delete, block the sender.

In the case of suspicious text messages, check the sender details • and follow the above instructions.

Never give your personal, credit card or online account details • over the phone unless you made the call and the phone number came from a trusted source.

Never give an unsolicited caller remote access to your computer.•

If you think you have provided bank account or credit card details to • a scammer, contact your bank or financial institution immediately.

Never give a telephone caller claiming to be from a charity organisa-• tion, your credit card details. If you would like to offer the charity a donation, say you will deal with them directly through that charity.

Romance scams often use other people’s photos and request help • for financial hardship.

If you come across a suspicious encounter of any sort, please report it to the ACCC by phone or email: www.scamwatch.gov.au/about-scamwatch/contact-us.

A MEssAGE FroM tHE EdItorYour newsletter will be published quarterly in January/February, April, August and November/December.

Tutors/activity leaders are encouraged to provide news items and photos to the email address below, particularly those running unfilled groups.

The newsletter now has a greater print run at high quality for larger distribution; to local libraries, retirement villages and council offices. As a result of this, we are likely to receive a lot more interest from the community so your submission can encourage new members and future leaders.

WE WELCoME YoUr ContrIBUtIons

Please forward letters, articles, interviews, poetry, short stories, photos, items of interest etc. to the editor: aosborne08@gmail.com.

Text and pictures should not be embedded together within a docu-ment. Pictures need to be supplied individually in jpeg format and text can be sent in an email or as a MS Word document.

Please supply images in medium to high resolution, ie. for one column wide, at least 1mb. More is good.

U3Asp EdItor Andrea Osborne

dIsCLAIMEr

From time to time your committee gives space in this newsletter to community events or notices which it believes, in good faith, are worthy of being brought to the attention of members.

ContACt:Old Shire Offices: 359a Point Nepean Road Dromana 3936PO Box 396 Dromana 3936 Ph: (03) 5981 8777 Email: office@u3asouthpen.org.au.Web: www.u3asouthpen.org.auOffice Hours: 9.30am - 1pm Tuesdays and Thursdays.