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U3A

WOLLONGONG – INC

PATRON: Professor Paul Wellings CBE, Vice Chancellor UOW

Term 1 Newsletter:

MONDAY JANUARY 30 – FRIDAY MARCH 31 2017

FROM THE PRESIDENT Dear Colleagues

Welcome back to the U3A 2017 year. I do hope that you all had an enjoyable and refreshing Christmas break and are now energised and looking forward to a stimulating range of talks, courses and activities that U3A Wollongong can provide.

As part of our reducing costs, the quarterly newsletters will no longer be mailed out. They will be printed prior to the end of the current term and be available to be collected on Mondays and Thursdays. Members who wish to still have the newsletter mailed out can provide Nancy with a stamped self-addressed envelope. If your email address has changed please let me know.

On Thursdays first session will be ‘Ireland: Past and Present’ with ‘Balance ‘N Bones’ continuing in MP1. The second session will have ‘Australian History, Part1’ with a new topic “Reading & Discussing Shakespeare” led by Gail Witcombe in MP1.

Regards David Christian

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Monday

Salvation Army Centre

Burelli Street

9.30 – 1.00

SESSION 1 – General Interest Talks

SESSION 2 – General Interest Talks

SESSION 3 – Current Affairs

- Monthly Book Club

(1st Monday)

Management Committee

(3rd Monday)

Auditorium

Auditorium

Auditorium

Auditorium

MP1

Tuesday

Varying Times and

Locations

- Opera Appreciation

- Philosophy at the Library

See elsewhere

in Newsletter

Thursday

Salvation Army Centre

Burelli Street

9.30 – 4pm

SESSION 1(A) - Ireland: Past and Present

SESSION 1(B) - Balance ‘N Bones

SESSION 2(A) – Australian History – Part 1

SESSION 2(B) – Reading and Discussing

Shakespeare

SESSION 3 (1pm) – Film Society

Auditorium

MP1

Auditorium

MP1

Auditorium

Friday

Salvation Army Centre

Burelli Street

9.00 – 10.30

Photography/Camera Group

Excursions, walks and social events as per term program

PROGRAM SYNOPSIS

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MONDAY. 9.30 AM – 12 noon – Coordinator: Jennifer Mattock

DATE TIME SPEAKER ADDRESS TITLE

6th Feb 9.30 am Professor Alex Frino, Deputy Vice-

Chancellor UOW

Global Strategy

11.00 am Dr Philip Laird High Speed Rail and the Shinkansen in Japan

13th Feb 9.30 am Dr Brian Martin, Professor Social

Sciences UOW

Euthanasia

11.00 am Warren Goodall, NSW Police

Force, Regional Emergency Mgr

Practical Application

20th Feb 9.30 am Simon Duffin From Yorkshire to Australia

11.00 am Don Driscoll I Would Like You to Meet EJ

27th Feb 9.30 am Ted Keenahan History of the Masons

11.00 am Mrs Trish Skehan “A Gleam of Gold, Legends of Northern Gold

Fields”

6th Mar 9.30 am Hon. Professor Ian Brown Traditional Art Vs Contemporary Art; Does it

Need Education or is it Just a Matter of

Taste.

11.00 am John Wright (Member) A Journey in Spain

13th Mar 9.30 am John Watson (Member) Sarah Brightman

11.00 am Ms Vimala Colless – Project Mgr

Community Development

Multicultural WSC

Multi Cultural Services WSC

20th Mar 9.30 am Ms Sue Liu Accidental Aid Worker – Author Address

11.00 am Dr Richard Harland The Making of an Author

27th Mar 9.30 am Anita Joinking Advice from the Illawarra Safety Brigade

11.00 am Cindy Kent Elder Abuse

MONDAY, SESSION 3 – 12.00 – 1.00 PM

CURRENT AFFAIRS Group Participation, New Members Welcome

Weekly Group coordination

BOOK CLUB Coordinator: Nancy Harman- (First Monday of month)

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THURSDAY PROGRAM Programme Planners: John Wright,

Aileen Harland, Martin Arrowsmith

SESSION 1 (A) 9.30 – 10.30 Auditorium

IRELAND: PAST AND PRESENT – Coordinator: Aileen Harland

From an Age of Invasion, through Rebellion and the Diaspora, to contemporary Ireland, the “Emerald

Isle” has long held a fascination for all. Follow the tales of those who have experienced Ireland at

first hand. Rediscover the magic of Irish Theatre, hear the lyrical wonder of Irish Literature, and listen

to the stirring sounds of Irish song and dance – in a live performance.

DATE TITLE PRESENTER

9th Feb Ireland: ‘An Age of Invasion’: Celts,

Christianity, Vikings

John Wright

16th Feb The Struggle for a Nation’s Soul: Ireland up to

1900

Martin Arrowsmith

23rd Feb Personal Recollections: Irish Family

History/Irish Travels

Barbara Meyns/

Jeanette Bond/

Aileen Harland

2nd Mar For the Cause of Liberty: 1900 to the Present Martin Arrowsmith

9th Mar Treasures of Irish Literature Aileen Harland

16th Mar From Belfast to Brooklyn – Modern Irish

Novelists

Pauline Reynolds

23rd Mar ‘All the World’s A Stage’ – Irish Theatre and

Film

Aileen Harland

30th Mar Irish Music and Dancing – a Live Performance

THURSDAY SESSION 1(B) 9.30 – 10.30 MP1

BALANCE ‘N’ BONES Leader: Susan Walkerden

This exercise class follows a DVD presentation provided by U3A Network NSW.

Maximum group numbers - 12. There may be some vacancies so aspiring new

members should consult Susan Walkerden in MP1.

PLEASE WEAR BADGES AT ALL SESSIONS

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THURSDAY PROGRAMME Programme Planners: John Wright, Aileen Harland,

Martin Arrowsmith

SESSION 2 (A) 11am-12 noon Auditorium

AUSTRALIAN HISTORY – PART 1 Coordinator: Martin Arrowsmith

In the survey we conducted earlier this year there was a high level of interest expressed about an Australian

History Unit. Consequently, Term 1 2017 will include topics such as: Indigenous history, white settlement,

convicts, gold, bushrangers, social and political issues up to Federation. This Unit will be followed by more

topics in Term 3 2017 and Term 1 2018.

DATE TITLE PRESENTER

9th Feb Illawarra 1,000 Years Ago – Dharawal Cuisine, Art,

Healing

Mike Donaldson

16th Feb Terra Australis Incognita – Asian/European

“Discovery” of Australia

Martin Arrowsmith

23rd Feb The Convict Experience Keith Allen

2nd Mar Bailed Up! - Bushrangers Aileen Harland

9th Mar Eureka! - Gold Rushes John Wright

16th Mar The Crimson Thread of Kinship – Politics up to 1914 –

Self-Government, Federation

Martin Arrowsmith

23rd Mar Damned Whores and God’s Police – Role of Women in

19th Century Australia

Pauline Reynolds

30th Mar The Workingman’s Paradise - Social Progress –

8 Hour Day, Harvester Judgment

John Wright

THURSAY SESSION 2(B) – 11.AM – 12 NOON – MP1

READING AND DISCUSSING SHAKESPEARE Coordinator: Gail Whitcombe

We are going to read and discuss some of the works of Shakespeare beginning with

the historical play Julius Caesar. Our discussion will of course include the historical

setting of the time. You will need to bring a copy of the play with you – it can be

downloaded free from Gutenberg.org.

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THURSDAY THEMES TERM 2, 2017

Session 1 (A) Masters and their Masterpieces (2)

Session 2 (A) A Golden Age: The English Renaissance

TERM DATES FOR 2017

Enrolment Day: Monday January 30, then term begins on Monday

February 6 as below.

Term 1: Monday Feb 6 to Friday March 31 8 weeks

Term 2: Monday April 24 to Friday June 23 9 weeks

Term 3: Monday July 17 to Friday September 15 9 weeks

Term 4: Monday October 9 to Friday December 1 8 weeks

TUESDAY – OPERA APPRECIATION

Fortnightly at 5 Bushlands Avenue, Mount Pleasant

Contact: Kevin Rigby (42284 2721) for any vacancies

TUESDAY LUNCH GROUP

Held on 3rd Tuesday of the month at Wollongong Golf Club.

This is a chance to get to know other members in congenial surroundings.

See notice on sign-in table or contact: Margaret Parr on 4228 1353

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BOOK CLUB DATES FOR TERM 4

Monday 6 February - The Invention of Wings, Sue Monk Kidd

Monday 6 March - Olive Kitteridge, Elizabeth Strout

PHOTOGRAPHY & CAMERA GROUP - Coordinator: Norm Melvin

FRIDAY: 9.00 – 10.30AM - Level 3

Norm will have the programme for the term at the first meeting.

PLEASE TURN OFF MOBILE PHONES IN THE LECTURE THEATRES

MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE MEETING DATES TERM 1, 2017

Monday – 20 February

Monday – 20 March

Meetings Are held at 12noon in MP1 – any members welcome

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WALKING WITH SUE

WEDNESDAY 22nd FEBRUARY 2017

PUCKEY’S ESTATE 4 km

Meet at North Beach Surf Club at 8 am for early walk to Fairy Meadow and back,

through Puckey’s Estate. Chance to enjoy a coffee to finish.

LUNCH: Picnic Limit 20

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WEDNESDAY 15th MARCH 2017

CRONULLA FORESHORE WALK 6 km

Spectacular ocean views around the headland on good paths.

TRANSPORT: Train, 7.57 AM from Wollongong (change at Sutherland)

LUNCH: Picnic Limit 20

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Sue’s mobile number: 0432 652 154, for emergency use on the day.

Enrolment sheets for these walks are on sign-in table.

___________________________________________

DAY TRIPS AND HOLIDAY

Details will be available on enrolment day. Don’t forget to pick up a

sheet when you enroll.

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FILM SOCIETY PROGRAM TERM 4, 2016 - Coordinator: Rick Thompson

1pm-3.30pm Thursdays – Auditorium. Note that films marked * will be shown with subtitles

for the hard of hearing.

Feb 9 *THELMA AND LOUISE, USA, 1991. 129 mins. Directed by Ridley Scott. With Susan

Sarandon, Geena Davis. Two women mistakenly become outlaws and must flee across the

Southwestern desert pursued by the police and- possibly - helped by a charming hitchhiker.

Things get worse …

Feb 16 *YOJIMBO, Japan, 1961, 110 mins. Directed by Akira Kurosawa. With Toshiro Mifune. A

lone samurai (Mifune) wanders into a corrupt village of warring gangs and cannily turns

things to his own advantage. Darkly comic, the film was later remade as FISTFUL OF

DOLLARS.

Feb 23 *CINEMA PARADISO, Italy/France, 1988, 120 mins. Directed by Guiseppe Tornatore. With

Jacques Perrin, Phillipe Noiret. A love song to the cinema. In a small village, a boy becomes

enchanted with the local cinema and is taken under the projectionist’s wing to learn more

and more about it.

Mar 2 LOOKING FOR ALIBRANDI, Australia, 2000, 103 mins. Directed by Kate Woods. With

Greta Scacchi, Anthony LaPaglia. Coming of age drama: a teenage girl has difficulties

with her mother, with school, with school, with the surprise return of her long lost

father, and romantic choices.

Mar 9 THE QUIET MAN, USA, 1952, 129 mins. Directed by John Ford. With John Wayne,

Maureen O’Hara, Ward Bond. A troubled boxer (Wayne) returns at long last to the

Ireland of his birth to find romance with Maureen O’Hara and increasing resistance

from her brother. A very Irish film.

Mar 16 *ACCATONE, Italy, 1961, 117 mins. Directed by Pier Paolo Pasolini. With Franco

Citti. Pasolini’s first film explores life on the mean streets of Rome. A pimp leads a

grim existence on the margins of society. Excellent example of later Italian neo-

realism.

Mar 23 *PRINCESS MONONOKE, Japan, 1997, 134 mins. Directed by Hayao Miyazaki.

Adventure epic: a young warrior seeks a cure for a deadly curse in the in the forests in

which Lady Eboshi leads a clan of humans in battle against the animal gods therein.

Stunning animation.

Mar 30 *MEET ME IN ST LOUIS, USA, 1944. 108 mins. Directed by Vincent Minelli. With

Judy Garland, Margaret O’Brien. Archetypal MGM musical set in turn-of- the-century

St. Louis and more specifically in Garland’s family – mother, father, younger sister.

Musical numbers include “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”, “The Trolley Song”,

and of course the titular number.

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PHILOSOPHY COFFEE CLUB

WOLLONGONG LIBRARY – 10.00 – 12.00 – MONTHLY

The Philosophy Coffee Club meets in the Flinders Room of the Wollongong Library from 10.00

am – 12 noon on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month, (numbers are limited).

During the past year U3A members’ interest in philosophy saw an increase in members

joining the club. This means unfortunately that the club cannot accept any new members.

However, members interested in philosophy can contact me at rwilding2@bigpond.com to

discuss the possibility of forming another philosophy club.

Reg Wilding – 4228 3683

Enquiries: 4226 6112 (numbers are limited)

THE ENDURING VALUE OF PHILOSOPHY

Reg Wilding

The third Thursday of November is the day that UNESCO underlines the ‘enduring value of

philosophy for the development of human thought, for each culture and for each

individual’.

“Faced with the complexity of today’s world, philosophical reflection is above all a call to

humility, to take a step back and engage in reasoned dialogue to build together the

solutions to challenges that are beyond our control.

This is the best way to educate enlightened citizens, equipped to fight stupidity and

prejudice.

The greater the difficulties encountered the greater the need for philosophy to make

sense of questions of peace and sustainable development”, Irina Bokova.

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BOOK CLUB – REVIEW OF 2016

We usually choose a big book to read over the break and “Outlander” by Diana Gabaldon,

was very big at over 800 pages. However it also was the least popular among our

members with an average of 4/10 with three people giving it 0/10. The concept is

interesting – a woman steps through a rock and is transported to Scotland in the 18th

Century. There are several more books in the series and it has been made into a

television series.

The next book, “Children Act” by Ian McEwan was much better received by our readers

who gave it an average of just under 9/10, with a couple of 10s. It is a sad book with a

Children’s Court Judge having to make a heart wrenching decision when a boy refuses a

life-saving blood transfusion for religious reasons.

The interesting thing about book clubs is the variation of opinions on a book – sometimes

it is as if we have read a different book. For example “The signature of All Things” by

Elizabeth Gilbert, drew comments such as ‘dull and boring’, from one reader and ‘packed

with can’t put it down tales’ from another. I was inclined to agree with the former,

however it scored overall 8/10 making it one of our most popular books this year.

One book which everyone rated highly was ‘The Kite Runner’ by Khaled Hosseini with the

lowest score being 8/10 Some of our comments: ‘very interesting story dealing with guilt,

punishment and redemption’; ‘haunting, about son’s desire for his father’s affection’;

‘book about bullying, forgiveness, very powerful’. If you haven’t read it yet I highly

recommend that you do.

Overall I think it has been a very good year for our book club which has been going now

for ten years and I look forward to many more.

Nancy Harman

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EXCURSIONS & HOLIDAYS:

Doreen Teasdale 0414703271

Kathy Moore, 4228 3969

SOCIAL CONVENOR: Lunches

Margaret Parr 42281353

LIBRARIANS:

Pam Hennen

Jean Wakefield

MONDAY PROGRAM COORDINATOR

Jennifer Mattock – 0418 449811

THURSDAY PROGRAM PLANNERS

John Wright – 42 684393

Aileen Harland

Martin Arrowsmith

TECHNICAL TEAM

Allayne Foley

Janet Holloway

Marilyn Walters

WEB MANAGER

Allayne Foley

WELFARE OFFICER

Sandra Harding - 42259868

PRESIDENT:

David Christian – 4267 1488

VICE-PRESIDENT:

Lawrence Bond – 4229 7008

SECRETARY:

Nancy Harman 4262 8429

TREASURER:

Wanda Chies 4261 5351, 0403 755351

NEWSLETTER EDITOR:

Nancy Harman 0422 068627

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:

Martin Arrowsmith

Aileen Harland

Pam Hennen

Jennifer Mattock

Greg Scott

Doreen Teasdale

FILM SOCIETY COMMITTEE

Richard Thompson, Jeanette Bond, Lawrence

Bond, Alan Collis, Allayne Foley, Susan

Walkerden, Aileen Harland, Pam Allen, Keith

Allen

U3A Wollongong

P O Box 532

Wollongong, 2520

Web Site: www.wollongong.u3anet.org.au

email: u3awollongong@gmail.com