STAY CONNECTEDCENTRAL OFFICE NEWSLETTER

VOL. 17 | DECEMBER 2020

News from the President Hi Everyone,

What a year this has been. It is goodbye to 2020 and welcome 2021. I hope everyone has awonderful Christmas with family and friends andthen we look forward to the New Year and therestarting of U3A. It will be a little easier but westill have to be careful. I did a series of face-to-facemeetings from September at Mosman Art Gallerywith trepidation, I must admit but all went verywell. I am sure so many people just wanted to getout, meet friends enjoy a cuppa and catch up withpeople. Zoom is terrific but nothing beats meetingour friends.

Continued over page . . .

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

News from the President

Vale Dianne Ekert

Christmas Poem

Meet Dale Griffin

Whist I have always been passionateabout education and Sydney U3A,the more connection I have with ourloyal members, the stronger mybelief in our values become –Sharing, Growing, Socialising andPassion. Sydney U3A recognises andcelebrates the diversity that exists inpeople of different backgrounds,educational status and lifeexperiences. The outcome is anorganisation that provides low costcontinuing education to stimulatemind and body all in a relaxedenvironment that makes it easy tomeet and enjoy like-minded peopleand to develop new friendships. Weactively promote humanistic values –a rich, cultural diversity ofmembership. It is one of our greateststrengths and central to the U3Aethos. Our members range in agefrom the mid-50s through to early100s from all walks of life. It is one.And we offer a myriad of courses –something for everybody. ~ Di Ekert

The Course Book for 2021 isfinalised and of course manyof our members agreed toreceive a PDF (on email) withclasses and events mostlyresuming the first week ofFebruary. The Course Book oremail will go out aroundJanuary 15, so please checkthe book and email when itcomes in or you can visit thewebsite at:www.sydneyu3a.org

Bookings will be essential buthopefully we should be backto some form of normality, assoon as the situation is okay - fingers crossed. I would like tothank Anne Richardson andthe Education team and theCourse Co-ordinators fortheir hard work at this verydifficult time.

2021 ~ Judy Harris, President, SydneyU3A

On behalf of our U3A members,I have extended to her husbandJohn and family our sincerecondolences at this very sadtime. Dianne will be missed.Rest In Peace, Dianne ourthoughts and prayers are withyou. ~ Judy Harris, President, SydneyU3A

Vale Dianne EkertOn November 24, I receivedthe very sad news that DianneEkert, U3A Vice President ofPublic Relations had passedaway.

The Executive and Board ofManagement weredevastated as she has done somuch for U3A over manyyears and her knowledge wasamazing. Over the yearsDianne had been on so manycommittees and attendeddifferent classes and events,and particularly collated and edited our Newsletter “StayConnected” which has been avital communication to ourmembers at this difficult time.

I know Dianne received manywonderful emails from ourmembers keeping them intouch with what washappening.

Dianne Ekert was a great inspiration to me inthe way she did not allow herphysical/movement disabilities to deter herfrom attending all important meetings. Shemade a determined and incisive contribution notonly to the Board of Management of SydneyU3A but to the promotion and publication ofSydney U3A activities over a number of years.

She compiled and sent out great newsletters inher role of Vice-President Publicity andintroduced Sydney U3A to a wider audiencethrough Facebook.

Vale Dianne Ekert~ Warwick Mayne-Wilson, President, Eastern Region

As President of the Eastern Region of which shewas an alert member, she supported me innumerous ways about steps I proposed to take.

I always found her guidance constructive andhelpful – evidence of a keen intelligence blendedwith sympathetic understanding. I, along withmany of my colleagues, will really miss her keenmind and readiness to offer an alternative view inwhat she really believed in. I’m sure it helped us toarrive at balanced and considered decisions.

http://www.sydneyu3a.org/http://www.sydneyu3a.org/

The Upper North Regionwould like to express theirappreciation of Di’scontribution to Sydney U3Aover a long period.

Di performed a variety ofroles, being on variouscommittees, keen to makesure functions were carriedout in a methodical fashion.Policies and Procedures wereto be properly formulated andcarried out. She was a staunchsupporter of education in theThird Age. Social interactionwas stressed as an importantelement of the organisation.The Upper North Region wasvery grateful for her support.

Vale Dianne Ekert

~ Grahame Marr, President,Upper North Region

I first met Dianne as the Chairperson of the 2018 Network NSW Conference when I was amember of Sydney U3A Board of Management.

In March 2018 I was elected as President of Sydney U3A and Dianne was elected as VicePresident Education. During the three years we worked together we had several difficultsituations we needed to handle and Dianne's expertise in public relations were an enormous helpto me. I knew I could rely on her support at all times and we were able to work together tofurther the work of Sydney U3A.

Dianne continued to make a contribution to our organisation as Vice President Public Relations.She is greatly missed.

Vale Dianne Ekert

Any invitation to attend a function in our region wasaccepted whenever possible, with advantage taken of anyopportunity to speak and thank leaders, committeemembers and supporters. The challenge to attend events atsome distance from home was no deterrent.

We wish to pay a sincere tribute to her commitment andinvolvement in U3A.

~ Barbara Boston, President March 2018 - 2020

“Christmas comes but once a yearAnd when it comes it brings good cheer.”But 2020 is COVID yearAnd with it comes our common fear.

No cakes and wine to family bear.No parties with our friends to share.Churches closed and altars bare.Shock and sadness everywhere.

But in that stable far awayIn time and distance gone astray,His cot surrounded by bales of hay,A tiny babe in blankets lay.

His parents, poor but honest folk,Kiss the babe and loving stroke.Round the door the sheep’s heads poke,Sniffing out the welcome smoke.

The tale is old, the story well known.We’ve lived with it as we have grown.Over the years its meaning sownInto the fabric that we all own.

And now this year we must be strongAnd walk the path both hard and long.With welcome carol and holy songWe greet our friends and bring them along.________________________________________________

Christmas 2020

~ Ann O'Connor, Creative Writing,Endeavour Region

Membership Renewal

Please remember to check theRENEWAL DATE on yourmembership card, bottom right handcorner!

The annual membership fee is $75.00which entitles you to attend anycourse in any of the seven Sydneyregions. Renew online or,alternatively, forms can be posted orhand delivered to:

Sydney U3ACentral OfficeSuite 10.2, St Martin’s Tower31 Market StreetSydney NSW 2000

A mind that is stretched by anew experience can never go

back to its old dimensions.~ Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr

Volunteer needed for 2021 as Editor of“Stay Connected”. Due to the sad passingof Dianne Ekert if there is a wonderfulperson out there who has experience withcollating , compiling and editing aNewsletter and could volunteer their timeand expertise to help out, it would beappreciated. Please contact Judy Harrison: president.sydneyu3a@gmail forfurther details.

http://gmail/

My name is Dale Griffin and Iam a relatively new memberof U3A having retired justover two years ago. I live onSydney’s North Shore and Ihave spent my career workingin various roles and across anumber of industries withinIT. I am currently helping outwith the programming andsupport of some of theprograms used by HeadOffice.

After I graduated fromMacquarie Uni with a Sciencedegree I travelled acrossAfrica to the UK where Iaccepted a traineeprogrammer position locatedin London and where I livedfor three years.

Meet one of ourVolunteers

~ Dale Griffin

Since retiring I spend my timeplaying bridge, playing golf andtravelling. I also attend some ofthe U3A courses and I am reallyenjoying the stimulation theyprovide. I am looking forward toongoing engagement with U3A.

After returning to Sydney andwhile having two pre-schoolchildren I completed aDiploma in InformationTechnology.

I have been lucky to haveenjoyed a varied andinteresting career, havingworked both as a contractorand as a staff member for anumber of governmentagencies and Universities,including Sydney University,Macquarie and ACU.

My career focus has been onapplication development andsupport and I haveundertaken roles ranging fromprogramming, systemanalysis, team leader andproject management. My lastrole before retiring was atMacquarie University asApplication Manager with afocus on their StudentAdministration System.

MEMBERSHIP PAYMENT METHODSOn-line : www.sydneyu3a.org (credit/debit card/PayPal)

Cheque : Payable to Sydney U3A Inc, mailed to Suite 10.2, 31 Market Street, Sydney 2000Bank Transfer : Sydney U3A - St. George Bank – BSB 112 879 Account Number - 424522654

Credit Card : (NOT AMEX or Diners) Telephone the office (02) 9267 9056

SHARING GROWING SOCIALISING PASSIONSYDNEY U3A CREDOS

Sydney U3A IncABN 32 251 810 797

Suite 10.2, St Martin’s Tower, 31 Market Street, Sydney NSWmail@sydneyu3a.org sydneyu3a.org (02) 9267 9056

STAY CONNECTED Volume 17 Issued December xx, 2020Produced by Cherie Clover, Published by Stuart Cumming

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