Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
GRAFTON U3A OCTOBER 2016 PAGE 1
GRAFTON U3A INC. (UNIVERSITY OF THE THIRD AGE) PO Box 688 Grafton NSW 2460 www.grafton.u3anet.org.au
“Sharing our knowledge, skills and experience in a friendly convivial way”
OCTOBER 2016
JABBERFEST–10AM 10 OCTOBER 2016–GRAFTON COMMUNITY CENTRE
BA (Music), FTCL, FCompASMC, MAudSt, MAudSA(CCP), MIAA Our guest speaker – the founding Artistic Director & Conductor of the Clarence Valley Orchestra & Chorus will need little introduction to many members. Greg’s professional music career started by joining the Royal Australian Air Force Operational Command Band at RAAF Base Richmond NSW at age 19. After serving 20 years and attaining the rank of FSGT Musician as a trombonist & as a Senior Operations Manager, he was responsible for all national and international travel, meals, accommodation and transport arrangements for all band activities. During his RAAF career, he performed nationally and internationally from anything to small school concerts to Opera House and ministerial events, playing for the Queen, US Presidents and at many other vice regal and public occasions. He was awarded the Defence Force Service Medal, the Australian Service Medal with SE Asia Clasp and Australian Defence Medal. During his time in the RAAF, he was also a freelance trombonist and conductor with professional & community bands and commenced studying part time, gaining a Bachelor of Arts (Music) from the University of New England.
Retiring from the RAAF to the Southern Highlands of NSW, he started his own music business - Crazy Rhythm Music, was musical director of numerous school bands, instrumental tutor, together with arranging and composing music. He was also a woodworker at this time having made small clocks for several of the Southern Highlands boutique gift shops, even making Handcraft Champion at the 2002 Robertson Show. In 2003, Greg was appointed Director of the Clarence Valley Conservatorium, responsible for an educational budget funding for 700 students of all ages; producing and creating professional workshops and master-classes; conducting local public & high school bands, the Conservatorium Sinfonia Orchestra and swing Big Band. As a professional musician and many years of musical and managerial experience, Greg enhanced and developed the Conservatorium during his tenure. Greg attained Represented Australian Composer Status from the Australian Music Centre Sydney in 2005 and is also a published composer with THORP Music and Wirripang having compositions held in the National Music Library Collection Canberra. He attained Fellow in Composition from the Trinity College of Music, London in 2007 and also attained Fellow in Composition from the Australian Society of Musicology and Composition. In the same year, Greg returned to University and study as a full-time student, gaining a Master of Audiology degree from the University of Queensland in 2009. In the following two years, he worked for Advanced Hearing Aid Specialists in Ballina as a full-time audiologist and began travelling great distances to provide hearing services to outlying regional areas. He commenced his own business - Accent Hearing Pty Ltd in late 2011 in Grafton and is currently the only local full-time Audiologist in the Clarence Valley servicing private & Government clients. He also has outer regional hearing clinics in Glen Innes and Inverell. Greg is a member and Accredited Audiologist of the Audiological Society of Australia and the Independent Audiologists of Australia. In 2014, he established Accent Productions and the Clarence Valley Orchestra and Chorus, utilising local and visiting musicians and is the founding Artistic Director and Conductor. He has produced four major concerts at the Saraton Theatre Grafton with the orchestra, raising over $23,000 to date for local charities. The next Proms is on 30 October 2016 during the Jacaranda Festival. Greg was named Clarence Valley Citizen of the Year for 2015 and has recently taken on the role of Rotary Midday Grafton Secretary/Director for 2016/2017.
GRAFTON U3A OCTOBER 2016 PAGE 2
SEPTEMBER JABBERFEST WRAP President David Thompson opened the meeting attended by 72 members on behalf of whom he congratulated former committee member David Abrahams on his 86th birthday. He then reminded members to wear their badges when attending Jabberfest and partaking in interest groups and courses. Unfinancial members were reminded regarding payment of overdue membership fees. An appeal was made for additional volunteers to assist with morning tea to join the roster. Kevin Dixon was then introduced and presented an entertaining segment titled “Numbers Numbers Numbers” taking members on a voyage of discovery as to the many different types of numbers – whole, natural, integer, rational, real, positive, negative, perfect, prime and cardinal, just to name a few. Morning tea followed after which President David introduced the Pacific Complete Woolgoolga to Ballina project team – Steven Rooke, Nicholas Morton and Eda Calabria who provided an overview of the Woolgoolga to Ballina Pacific Highway upgrade focussing on the section between Glenugie and Tyndale. Early work is starting in this section to prepare for building work including:
• Clearing vegetation and establishing erosion and sediment controls • Installing fauna fencing along the route • Building a 30 kilometre haul road to limit the need for large earthmoving equipment to use local
roads • Building site compounds at Avenue Road Glenugie and at Tyndale • Drilling and blasting to create material for the project
The project team used a collaborative mapping, tool which is available on the Roads and Maritime Services website to answer questions about the location and route of the Woolgoolga to Ballina Pacific Highway upgrade. You can access the mapping tool at http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/projects/northern-nsw/woolgoolga-to-ballina/index.html and contact the project team on 1800 778 900 if you have any further questions. Pacific Complete was engaged by Roads and Maritime Services to partner with the Pacific Highway Office to deliver the project, which is being funded jointly by the Australian & NSW Governments at a cost of $4.36 billion. The 155 kilometre upgrade is Australia’s largest regional infrastructure project and the final highway link between Hexham and the Queensland border to be upgraded to four lanes. The project is on track to open to traffic by 2020. When completed the upgrade will provide the following benefits:
Reduce overall length by 13 kilometres Allow for a higher posted speed limit of up to 110 km/h Reduce travel time by 25 minutes Reduce crash rates by an expected 27% due to divided carriageways Improve travel reliability through better flood immunity, fewer incidents and more readily
available alternate routes
Following the presentation the representatives fielded questions from the audience. President David thanked them for the address and presented them with gifts crafted by members of the Mens Shed. The lucky door prize was won by Mary-Lou Brown. Next Jabberfest 10 AM 10 October – Grafton Community Centre.
CHRISTMAS PARTY - Mark it on your calendar today.
Date: Monday December 5th 2016
Where: Grafton District Services Club, Mary Street Grafton
Time: 12 noon.
Cost: $25.50
Details:
There will be two courses with tea and coffee available. The bar will be open for you to purchase your own drinks.
Names and money will be collected at October and November Jabberfest.
Do get your thinking caps on for your "Best Dressed" Christmas outfit. There has been a high standard set in past years. Fiona Duggan (02) 6649 3202
GRAFTON U3A OCTOBER 2016 PAGE 3
COURSES/GROUPS UPDATE ARMCHAIR TRAVEL Our guest presenter at our next meeting on 25 October at 2.00pm will be Alysan Pender who will be recounting details of her travels in the South West area of the USA. It should be a fascinating insight and new attendees are always welcome. Contact Magda Mussared 6644 9309 for any enquiries.
BUSHWALKING On Monday 29 August, a group of twelve embarked on a bushwalk from Angourie to Shelley Beach. Photos from the journey courtesy of Nick Reeve.
COMMITTEE 2016-17 David Thompson (President) 6644 7782 0478229617 [email protected]
Alysan Pender (V. President) 6644 5397 [email protected]
Carole Cairns (Secretary) 6642 4615 0409400816 [email protected]
Bruce Carle (Treasurer 6642 7122 0409225536 [email protected]
COMMITTEE
Gladys Andersen 6642 6416
Mary Lou Brown 6644 5167 [email protected]
Brian Carter 6644 7347 [email protected]
Pat Connelly 6642 6695 [email protected]
Fiona Duggan 6649 3202 [email protected]
Dennis Kelly 6644 7944 [email protected]
Nick Reeve 6642 5367 0408001541 [email protected]
LOOKING BACK TOWARDS POINT BREAK, ANGOURIE
BORONIA
BORONIA
THE PINNACLE LOOKING TOWARDS THE CLARENCE BUSHWALK MARA CREEK TO SHELLEY BEACH
GRAFTON U3A OCTOBER 2016 PAGE 4
PRESIDENT’S LETTER…. Dear Members Kevin Dixon baffled us with numbers that I had never heard of leaving us totally confused to start the day’s program. He was followed by an interesting talk by the Pacific Complete Woolgoolga to Ballina project team on the progress of the Pacific Highway Upgrade, however, it was disappointing that only 72 members were in attendance, down from our normal attendance of 100+. Mary-Lou always seems to find interesting speakers for us although she is always eager to hear of any potential speakers that you might know of for future Jabberfests. It was disappointing that only 11of the 17 original respondents who said they would be attending the lunch at the Five Mile Hotel actually turned up. In future, members will need to pay in advance if they
register their intention to attend U3A functions especially when we need to book a venue. Members are reminded of the need to wear their badges to Jabberfest and to ensure that those on lanyards have not flipped around. Perhaps members could at least write their first name on the reverse side of the name tag so at least people can greet you by your name. Christmas is rapidly approaching and the U3A Christmas lunch will be held at the Grafton Services Club on 5 December at 12.00. Please register your intention to attend and pay at the next Jabberfest. We need a volunteer photographer for the occasion (see Carol or Gladys as Fiona will be away from 22 October). The Mens Shed is disappointed that the contract for the remaining 30% of the possum boxes has gone interstate. They are currently looking for anyone that might have donations of suitable timber such as camphor laurel or silky oak. If you are concerned that you can never win the door prize because you arrive late or early and the guest speakers nearly always pick a middle number, then never fear, Gladys Andersen has found the solution and randomly numbers the sheets after everyone has arrived. The success of this method was illustrated when Mary-Lou Brown (always an early arrival) won the door prize for the first time.
David Thompson Phone – 6644 7782
NEW MEMBERS We welcome new member – Bronwyn Hill. We trust that you enjoy your association with Grafton U3A and take the opportunity to avail of the various courses/interestgroups on offer.
MEMBER BADGES Members are encouraged to wear their name badges when attending Jabberfest and course/group activities.
Due to the absence of luncheon photographer Morrie Duggan, we are seeking a volunteer to take on this pleasant
task at our Christmas luncheon in December. So, if you are a “happy snapper” who would be interested in filling in for Morrie, please contact Fiona Duggan 6649 3202 up to 22 October or Carole Cairns or Gladys Andersen.
MISLAID HEARING AIDS Owners of misplaced hearing aids can be traced through the serial number from which the manufacturer can identify the retailer and customer name
enabling them to make contact direct with the owner. Contributed by Gladys Andersen
LATERAL THINKING PUZZLERS Last Month Solution – COIN OF THE REALM Why are 20 pennies worth more than 15 pennies? Because there are more of them. The same applies for 1988 and 1983 pennies. The brain sees these numbers as dates.
EDITOR CONTACT Contributions to the Jabber Journal are always welcome. We reserve the right to edit or refuse material submitted for publication. Closing date for the November edition of the Journal is Monday 24 October 2016. Editor Dennis Kelly [email protected]
