Live and Learn Number 18, March 2017

IN THIS ISSUE

1 A Word from the Editor 2 President’s Notes, News 3 April Calendar, AGM 4 May Calendar 5 June Calendar 6 Open Day

FROM THE EDITOR….

Well, we’re ten weeks into the year already and it seems like I’ve only just stopped picking plum pudding out of my teeth. Welcome everyone to a busy New Year. First up, our Annual General Meeting will be held in Room 22 on Sunday 2 April. Please come along—we want to have as representative a committee as possible and new faces and ideas are always welcome. We’re particularly looking for someone with PR skills to help Glyn and Carmel with promoting U3A more widely on the Tablelands, so if you know someone…. Our Open Day in January was a wonderful success again—you’ll see photos of some of the crowd inside. Thanks to everyone who organised and participated in what was a great morning. The beginning of the year is always fee time, so if you haven’t paid your registration for 2017, a friendly reminder that your $25 is due, so that you can keep enjoying all the interesting activities throughout the year. Which leads me neatly into our program for 2017. Our thanks to Jane and her committee and all the dedicated presenters for what promises to be another outstanding line-up of talks, activities and events in store this year. If you’ve only been involved with one regular U3A activity in the past, why not come along to some of the weekly talks, or become a participant in another group event? I figure getting out and broadening my mind is better than sitting at home broadening my backside (which is happening quickly enough anyway). The calendar of events is inside, but don’t forget to check the Website regularly for new activities and last-minute changes. In May Pauline and I are off on a cruise along the Kimberley coast from Broome to Darwin to see the bits we can’t get to by car (i.e. most of it). I’ll have a report and the odd piccie in the June edition if we don’t decide to stay there. If you’ve been somewhere away from the usually tourist haunts, let us know—either a short report for the newsletter or maybe you could give us a talk about it.

Members old and new gather at the 2017 Open Day.

PRESIDENT’S NOTES

Barbara Whybird

2017 has started with many new and exciting talks thanks to the great work of the Program Committee. Old favourites are back and are as popular as ever. The Open Day, held in January, was well supported with many new members joining us after seeing the range of courses available. The Committee is investigating the installation of air conditioning in Room 22 which should provide pleasant conditions during hot weather. The Annual General Meeting will be held in Room 22 on 2

nd

April at 2pm. All members are encouraged to attend to elect the Management Committee for the next twelve months. I would like to thank the members who helped with the Christ-mas function held at the Atherton Golf Club; it was once again well attended and was an enjoyable way to finish off the year.

Fran Herriott and Jane Duncanson discussing the year’s program with visitors to the Open Day.

FOR MEMBERS: A reminder that your $25 membership for 2017 is due, if you haven’t already renewed it. Remember you must be a financial member to participate in U3A activities. You can download the membership form from the website or direct deposit to: BSB: 084 512 Account No: 198073300. Don’t forget to include your name and/or membership number. Each time the newsletters are emailed out, a few bounce back because of incorrect addresses. If you change your email address at any time, can you please let our membership officer know so that we can stay in touch with you. membership@athtablands.u3anet.org.au

CALENDAR FOR APRIL 2017

MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY

3 9.30 Mah Jong 5.00pm Tai Chi 7.30pm Ballroom Dance Lessons

4 10.00 Cryptics l 4.00pm Italian

5 9:30 Tai Chi 7.00 Old Time Dance

6 9.30 Qigong Tai Chi 2.00pm Book Club

7 10.00 Friday Forum 1.00pm Mah Jong

10 9.30 Mah Jong 2.00pm Card Playing 5.00pm Tai Chi 7.30pm Ballroom Dance Lessons

11 10.00 Heart Foundation 4.00 Italian

12 9:30 Tai Chi 10.00 Wet Tropics Pests 11.30 Culinary Delights

13 9.30 Qigong Tai Chi 9.30 Hardy Perennials 1.00 Happy Snappers

14 9.00 Adv. Mah Jong 1.00pm Mah Jong

17 9.30 Mah Jong 5.00pm Tai Chi 7.30pm Ballroom Dance Lessons

18 4.00 Italian

19 9:30 Tai Chi 10.00 Ice cream in Kathmandu 2.00pm Writers W/shop 7.00 Old Time Dance

20 9:30 Qigong Tai Chi 2.00 Classical Music

21 1.00pm Mah Jong

24 9.30 Mah Jong 2.00pm Card Playing 5.00pm Tai Chi 7.30pm Ballroom Dance Lessons

25 12.00 Lunch with Friends

26 9:30 Tai Chi

27 9.30 Qigong Tai Chi 11.00 Wisdom 1.00 Happy Snappers

28 9.00 Adv. Mah Jong 1.00pm Mah Jong

Inside every old person is a young person wondering what happened. (Terry Pratchett)

NEW THIS MONTH

La nostra base popolare lezioni di italiano Il ritorno in aprile, con particolare enfasi su conversazione in italiano. Nota Il leggermente prima volta quest anno di 4.00pm. (Our popular Basic Italian classes return in April, with the emphasis on conversational Italian. Note the slightly earlier time this year of 4.00pm.) Advanced Mah Jong. This group is limited to eight members and will focus on learning how to score Mah Jong. As the games will be played at a reasonably fast pace, those joining the advanced group should already be experienced in the basics of playing Mah Jong. Play will follow the same rules as in the book the beginners groups use. i.e. 'The Mah Jong Player's Companion' by Patricia A Thompson and Betty Maloney. Representatives from the Heart Foundation will be speaking on Eating and Active Living for a Healthy Heart on 11 April. And our Wednesday morning talks this month are by Peter “Piggy” Pavlov on Pests of the Wet Tropics, and Bill Bray. With wars breaking out across Asia, Bill stayed in Kathmandu and operated a trekking com-pany and then opened an ice cream parlour and a restaurant. A story of living and working in Nepal.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING The Annual General Meeting of U3A Atherton Tablelands will be held on Sunday 2 April

in Room 22, 42 Mabel St, Atherton, commencing at 2.00pm.

Nominations are called for the positions of President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and other committee members. Nominations are to be with the Secretary

info@athtablands.u3anet.org.au by Friday 31 March.

CALENDAR FOR MAY 2017

MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY

1 9.30 Mah Jong 2.00pm Book Club 5.00pm Tai Chi 7.30pm Ballroom Dance Lessons

2 2.00pm Fish Reproduction 4.00pm Italian

3 9:30 Tai Chi 10.00 Western Front 7.00 Old Time Dance

4 9:30 Qigong Tai Chi 10.00 China Pt l 2.00pm Book Club

5 10.00 Friday Forum 1.00pm Mah Jong

8 9.30 Mah Jong 2.00pm Card Playing 5.00pm Tai Chi 7.30pm Ballroom Dance Lessons

9 10.00 Fossils 1.00 Happy Bookers 4.00pm Italian

10 9:30 Tai Chi 10.00 Birds of Paradise 11.30 Culinary Delights

11 9:30 Qigong Tai Chi 9.30 Hardy Perennials 1:00 Happy Snappers

12 9.00 Adv. Mah Jong 1.00pm Mah Jong

15 9.30 Mah Jong 5.00pm Tai Chi 7.30pm Ballroom Dance Lessons

16 2.00pm Fish Shapes 4.00pm Italian

17 9:30 Tai Chi 10.00 Know Your IPad 2.00 Writers W/shop 7.00 Old Time Dance

18 9:30 Qigong Tai Chi 10:00 China Pt ll 2:00 Classical Music

19 1.00pm Mah Jong

22 9.30 Mah Jong 2.00pm Card Playing 5.00pm Tai Chi 7.30pm Ballroom Dance Lessons

23 12.00 Lunch with Friends 4.00pm Italian

24 9:30 Tai Chi

25 9:30 Qigong Tai Chi 11.00 Wisdom 1:00 Happy Snappers

26 1.00pm Mah Jong

29 9.30 Mah Jong 2.00pm Book Club 5.00pm Tai Chi 7.30pm Ballroom Dance Lessons

30 2.00pm Fish—Tinaroo Experience 4.00pm Italian

31 9:30 Tai Chi 7.00 Old Time Dance

NEW THIS MONTH

Not only is Alf Hogan our Website guru and the purveyor of wisdom about all things info-tech, many of you will be familiar with his occasional stories in the Tablelander about piscatorial matters. So this month Alf has three Tuesday fishy talks for our education and entertainment. Then he’s back with his IPad hat on for Wednesday the 17th.

Two new book clubs will be commencing in May as the Thursday Book Club is currently full. The Monday Book Club (on Monday obviously) and Happy Bookers on Wednesday—see the Website for format details. More Natural History talks with Chris Larkin discussing the fossils of Riversleigh, and Bill Bray returns with the Birds of Paradise of Papua New Guinea.

Alf Hogan

Bill Bray

CALENDAR FOR JUNE 2017

MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY

1 9.30 Qigong Tai Chi 2.00 Book Club

2 1.00pm Mah Jong 3.30pm Friday Forum

5 9.30 Mah Jong 2.00pm Card Playing 5.00pm Tai Chi 7.30pm Ballroom Dance Lessons

6 10:00 Tablelands Volcanoes 4.00pm Italian

7

8 9.30 Qigong Tai Chi 9.30 Hardy Perennials 1:00 Happy Snappers

9 1.00pm Mah Jong

12 9.30 Mah Jong 5.00pm Tai Chi 7.30pm Ballroom Dance Lessons

13 10:00 Cryptics ll 1.00 Happy Bookers 4.00pm Italian

14 11:30 Culinary Delights 7.00 Old Time Dance

15 9.30 Qigong Tai Chi 2:00 Classical Music

16 1.00pm Mah Jong

19 9.30 Mah Jong 2.00pm Card Playing 5.00pm Tai Chi 7.30pm Ballroom Dance Lessons

20 10:00 Cryptics ll 4.00pm Italian

21 10.00 Writers W/shop

22 9.30 Qigong Tai Chi 11:00 Wisdom 1:00 Happy Snappers

23 1.00pm Mah Jong

26 9.30 Mah Jong 2.00pm Book Club 5.00pm Tai Chi 7.30pm Ballroom Dance Lessons

27 10:00 Cryptics ll 12:00 Lunch with Friends 4.00pm Italian

28 7.00 Old Time Dance

29 9.30 Qigong Tai Chi 1:00 Happy Snappers 2.00pm Book Club

30 1.00pm Mah Jong

NEW THIS MONTH

Cryptics ll. An extension of Cryptic Crosswords for those who have completed Introductory Cryptics (including those who did it in 2015) and want to be even better. Challenge yourself by learning how clues are compiled, and go on to make up your own. Achieve a greater understanding of how compilers think, so that you can more easily decipher their dark secrets. And if you go on to make a living out of what you ’ve learned, don’t forget who taught you (5% of the gross would be acceptable…).

Eminent Australian geologist David Johnson will be leading an volcano excursion on 6 June. Keep an eye on the Website for more details—this is a not-to-be-missed opportunity.

Last time I was visiting her, I asked my daughter for the password for her Wi-Fi. “It’s taped under the key-board”, she called out from the kitchen. So I started typing: T-A-P-E-D U-N-D-E-R T-H-………..

Seven Sisters, part of the Tablelands’ volcanic landscape.

U3A Online is an individual, independent and autonomous U3A that offers courses and many other useful resources for older people, especially those who are geographically, physically or socially isolated. Courses are open to all older people and disabled younger people anywhere in the world. All that’s needed to study online is access to a computer with an Internet connection – and some basic computing skills. Some courses have a leader and others are completed individually. For further details and how to enrol, visit our Website, and under Links to Other Sites click U3A On-line.

For the Crypticians, your next clue: Constricting hobo constructs a launch facility (4, 4) Last edition’s answer: Swallows (Answer in next edition)

OPEN DAY 2017

Alf Hogan and Mary Lyle at the registration table.

...and morning tea.

Members sharing information... Thank you to Peter Larkin and Wiert Mensinga for the

Open Day photos.

Retirement is when we stop living at work and start working at life.