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Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea was held on Thursday 22 May at Penrith School of Arts. There was a good turn out and, in addition to cash, some members donated for sale Arts & Crafts, books, cakes, pastries and plants. $652 was collected for the Cancer Council and will aid education programmes, research and support services for individuals diagnosed with cancer and their families.
Debating Club – 2.30pm on Saturday, 31st May at Penrith School of Arts
“The Times they are a changing” will be debated. Everyone is welcome including non-members – so bring your friends - and tea and coffee will be provided.
NRMA Presentation on Driving – 11.00am on Wednesday, 4th June 2008 at Penrith School of Arts
Frank Higgins will give a one hour presentation about Driving on behalf of the NRMA. The topics covered are: Roads and road rules - cars and car safety, safer driving tips, pedestrian issues, health issues, mobility alternatives, the older driver license tests, the impact on fellow road users, amongst other issues.
Everyone is welcome Debating Club – 2.30pm on Saturday, 31st May at Penrith School of Arts – so bring your friends - and tea and coffee will be provided.
Education Expo – Rosehill Racecourse
To be held on Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th June 2008 at the Exhibition Centre, Rosehill, Sydney, from 9am to 4pm daily.
U3A will have an information exhibit at this Expo and we are seeking volunteers to assist in manning the stall on either of these days.
Access is easy and there is a café and plenty of room to move and park. There is unlimited free parking. The M4 motorway is close by and Rosehill has its own railway station
EVERYTHING EDUCATIONAL will be on show including educational institutions, learning resources, education services, careers, apprenticeships, new products, government agencies and education specialists. In addition to hundreds of booths there are e-learning demonstrations, try-a-trade, non-stop stage performances, free canteen samples, a chess challenge and mind games. Public entry and parking are free.
You will find U3A at Site Number H03
Trains to Rosehill Station:
You can catch a train right to Rosehill
Change trains at Parramatta for Clyde (three stops past Parramatta)
Change trains at Clyde for the Carlingford line
Trains arrive at Rosehill from Clyde at 9.55am, 10.55am, 11.55am, 12.55pm etc.
Trains depart Rosehill to Clyde at 10.22am, 11.22am, 12.22pm etc.
NOTE – Trains arrive and depart from Platform 2 (the Exhibition side platform)
Entry is FREE! Parking is FREE! The Expo programme is FREE!
U3A Excursion - Wednesday 10th September, 2008
Our U3A Committee has organised a combined bus trip and river cruise for our members and their partners on Wednesday 10th September, 2008. (This is a new date than previously discussed with some members). Maximum cost will be $50.00 per person. It may be slightly less, depending of numbers.
The bus will pick up passengers from Panthers at 8.45am and the northern side of the Penrith railway station at 9.00am.
The bus will travel to Glenorie for a visit to Balanced Essentials Aromatherapy, welcomed on arrival by your host with a terrific spread for morning tea. Then enjoy a presentation and information session on aromatherapy – try the products and you can purchase them at discounted prices.
We then travel into Wisemans Ferry to be welcomed aboard Leisure Lass Cruises for a two hour luncheon cruise. Sit back and be transported back in time with an historical commentary, hear the River Trade stories and of the local lifestyle, in fully air conditioned comfort with a fully licensed bar, panoramic windows and a delightfully experienced crew.
Returning to Wisemans Ferry and our waiting coach, we then pay a visit to the Ferry Gallery and Visitors Information Centre, before rejoining our waiting coach for the leisurely journey home.
Trip includes air conditioned coach travel, morning tea, and Balanced Essentials presentation, two hour cruise. Lunch menu – roast chicken, salads, bread rolls, dessert, tea/coffee.
Please ring the office on 4722 3505 and put your name down. Don’t wait too long; bookings are coming in very fast. Full payment will be required at the end of August.
Auction
The auction for items donated by Helmut Ullrich was completed and members with winning bids have been informed and requested to collect and pay for their goods. Money received will be put towards the 2010 State Conference Fund that we are responsible for hosting.
Architecture Correction to the Blackheath Area Neighbourhood Centre’s Newsletter:
There are places available in the U3A Architecture class at 10.45am to 12.45pm on Tuesdays at Blackheath Area Neighbourhood Centre. But Peter has advised that the course will not be run next Term. He may start it again next year. For further information contact Peter Buckwell tel: 4787 1388 or buckwellandpartners@bigpond.com
French Correction to the Blackheath Area Neighbourhood Centre’s Newsletter:
There are places available in the "U3A Conversations in French class" at 2.00pm to 3.30pm on Thursdays at Blackheath Area Neighbourhood Centre. For further information contact Jane Zemiro tel: 4787 5695 or jzemiro@yahoo.com .
Basic Computing at Penrith Library on Tuesdays
The Computer Room at Penrith Library will be closed until the end of this term. However, we have been given accommodation next door in the Community College of the Plaza Complex. At this stage, Penrith Library is unable to advise us on how long this arrangement will last. For further information contact
Robert Byrne tel: 4739 8436 or Robert@goodit.com.au .
Bonsai
The Bonsai course will be starting on Wednesday 25th June, 9:30am to 11.00am at Penrith School of Arts, 3 Castlereagh St, Penrith. For further information contact Jim Tiberi on 4735 1981
Digital Photography
Many members were disappointed that they could not join David Hobbs’ Digital Photography class at Blackheath in Term 1. However:
There is a Photography – Analog & Digital class at 11.45am to 1.00pm on Fridays at Penrith School of Arts, 3 Castlereagh St, Penrith. For further information contact Petr Malek tel; 4754 1959 or nadpet@iprimus.com.au
Penrith Valley Seniors Computing Club also specialises in Digital Photography and using Memories to TV on Fridays at 9.30am to 11.00am. Memories to TV is a sophisticated program for preparing photographs and adding music etc to show on TV. They also have a Digital Photography Club that meets on the 4th Tuesday of each month at 12 noon to 1.30pm. For further information contact Alan Lees tel: 4736 5541 or alanlees@y7mail.com
U3A On-line has a Digital Photography course: Digital Imaging TAT.
For further information see below and check www3.griffith.edu.au
Digital Imaging TAT - Course writers: Peter and Sheila Read
So you want to know how to produce a satisfactory print from your film or digital camera?
The course is aimed primarily for people who want guidance in the control of digital images from the very start. Maybe you have just acquired a digital camera and wish to get successful results from it. Or perhaps you have lots of old prints, negatives or slides and want to know the right way to deal with these in the new world of Digital Imaging. The course will also be useful to people who have been conventional photographers and want to move into the digital domain.
We will NOT be showing you how to take photographs or how to use a camera be they of the digital or film variety.
This course will show you how to use the Lightroom (formerly a Darkroom!). We will explore how to load photographs into your computer and how to deal with them using Image Manipulating software. We shall be using the Adobe Photoshop Elements 2.0 to co-ordinate the instructions. This is an interactive course in which you will use supplied images to learn various techniques as outlined in the units. You will then e-mail your results back to us for evaluation. Basic advice on equipment will be given.
The course will consist of an introductory unit and 8 units each covering various aspects of DI. They will be interdependent units so that what you learn in unit 1 will be needed for unit 8 for instance.
The Units
1. Getting Pictures into your computer; How to save, size, sharpen and print your images. How to e-mail images.
2. The 4 C's - Cropping, Cleaning, Cloning and Controlling your Image.
3. Essential Picture Correction - the use of Levels for Tonal and Colour Correction.
4. Further Colour Correction Ideas - the use of Colour Variations, Auto Colour Correction, Quick Fix and Hue & Saturation controls
5. Selections. The how and why.
6. Filters, Effects and Painting.
7. Why Layers and Blending Modes? Also putting Words onto your Picture.
8. Having Phun with Photos. Making Cards, Calendars and Montages.
Equipment needed to partake in this course
1. A computer with Internet connection - obvious of course! Dial-Up or Broadband is OK. Your computer will need to have Windows 98/ 98SE or 2000 or XP. You should have a minimum of 16Mb of hard disk space. We think you will need a lot more than this however; say 1000 Mb or 1 Gb of memory.
2. A Printer - photo quality A4 minimum.
3. Adobe Photoshop Elements 2.0
4. Possibly a Scanner. Probably Flatbed scanner is sufficient.
Important Clarification: If you enroll in Independent Study courses you work on your own from the course notes. You do not send emails to a course leader or other members of the group and you do not submit work.
Lapidary
Email from Ruth Todd about the Lapidary course that was held in Term 1 at the Blaxland Gem and Mineral Club in their Club house at Valley Heights.:-
We did cover the basics of geology and rock formation and some of the chemistry of rocks, crystals, etc. and we were given notes on these topics. We also covered fossicking and went for a practical day to the Megalong Valley. We were given a slice of rock which we were shown how to cut and polish into a cabochon and a thunder egg which we were shown how to cut and polish. As well as this, we were given an introductory demonstration on faceting, a piece of rock on which to practice freeform rock sculpture. Early in the course we had an introductory demonstration on silverwork. As you can see, a very full and interesting course.
The members of the course seemed to be most interested in the practical side and enjoyed the cutting and polishing of the rocks. The practical day fossicking in Megalong Valley was very well attended. Also, from conversations and questions, I am sure an opportunity to try making jewellery would be very well received.
Nepean District Lapidary Club has offered to run a course for our members at their Club house in Penrith at any mutually agreed time. They not only give instruction in Lapidary but also Silver work, Jewellery making, Casting and Fossicking. There would be a small additional fee of about $3 per class to cover equipment and material costs. If anyone is interested in taking a course at the Nepean District Lapidary Club, please contact Alan Lees tel: 4736 5541 or alanlees@y7mail.com
Italian Language for Seniors
Peter Caldalano has advised that, due to family commitments, he will be unable to continue his very popular “Italian Language for Seniors” class after Term 2. We hope Peter will be able to restart his class next year. However, the students of this class wish to continue and have asked me to try and find a new tutor. Anyone willing to run this class as a tutor or even as a Discussion Leader, please contact Alan Lees tel: 4736 5541 or alanlees@y7mail.com
Italian Literature
After this term, Silvio Trambaiolo will take a well earned break from tutoring his Italian Literature class at Blackheath Area Neighbourhood Centre. He hopes to resume again next year.
Art Tuition: Drawing & Painting
Harold Arndt has cancelled his class at Woodford because of the small number of students. He hopes to resume his class again next year when his new studio should be completed.
Music
One of our members would like to start a U3A Musical Group at Penrith. He has guitars and a keyboard. Preferably, we would like a Music Tutor to run this group. However, if there are members who would like to meet and practice their instruments together, there are lots of times that they can use our hall or rooms at the Penrith School of Arts. If you wish to lead a U3A Musical Group or just practice with other U3A members, please contact Alan Lees tel: 4736 5541 or alanlees@y7mail.com .
U3A in the Holidays
The Committee agreed that Tutors and Students could continue their courses or hold social functions etc during the holidays if they wished. Tutors should verify that premises are available and advise the Curriculum Convener - Alan Lees tel: 4736 5541 or alanlees@y7mail.com .
Walking With a Touch of History
The walking program is displayed elsewhere on the web page. CLICK HERE for details.
What is U3A – Message from our President
University of the Third Age started in France in 1972 and has since spread around the world. It is not a University as is generally known, but a place for seniors to further their interest in a hobby or belated education such as languages, possibly to be used in retirement travel or just enjoyment of further knowledge. The use of “University” in the case of U3A, comes from the ancient meaning –“A community of scholars”.
As is the case of all U3A’s, our Chapter is run on the principal of a totally voluntary organisation, no one receives or is entitled to any payment for duties performed, except for out-of-pocket expenses and very few claim these.
Membership dues are invested back to members in payment of accommodation for classes, publishing Term Newsletters and general office expenses. The only external printing done is the annual “Hand Book” and membership cards which every member receives.
This year has seen a presentation of over 100 different subjects offered to members. Has anyone taken time to think how much effort it takes to arrange this alone, again all voluntary.
The design and printing of literature to publicize these classes is done internally, again all voluntary.
Although we are a voluntary organisation, we still must abide by taxation rules on accounting and account-keeping, again all voluntary.
This list could go on but I think this is enough to let members know what the volunteers give you, the members, for your yearly contribution.
Reg Grace - President
Kerry Speak’s Resignation from the Committee
Kerry leads the Group “C” Walking Group on Mondays and, with Kay Barlow, is greatly responsible for the large number of new U3A members and courses in Blackheath. However, Kerry feels that she has over committed herself and has regrettably resigned from the Committee.
Blue Mountains Representation on the Committee
The majority of our members live in the Blue Mountains (see Membership Statistics on our website). However, we only have one of our 7 remaining Committee members who live in the Blue Mountains. We need a Vice-President – Blue Mountains and another Committee member to represent and encourage membership in the Blue Mountains. So “Come on” you Blue Mountains folk and join our Committee – contact our Office or any Committee member.
2010 NSW U3A Conference
U3A Hawkesbury Inc has been invited to join our U3A in hosting the 2010 NSW U3A Conference and to share our website until they start a website of their own.
Term 3 Newsletter
The closing date for submissions to the Term 3 Newsletter is Friday 13th June. Please send your submissions to the Office marked: Attention Newsletter Editor. Alternatively, email your contributions to: u3anews@bigpond.com
The next Committee Meeting will be at 1.30pm on Tuesday 10th June 2008 at the Penrith School of Arts.
Disclaimer – Articles contributed to this Newsletter and published as a service to members; do not necessarily reflect the opinion or policy of this association. Articles are intended as opinions and items of debate only and should not be acted on without expert advice
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