Creative Talk

The first time I looked down the list of courses available to U3A members I was intrigued by the inclusion of Creative Talk. What is it? How is it creative? What do people actually do? I suppose I should have enquired a bit further but other things got in the way.

Until yesterday.

I popped into Caddie's for a coffee and met a group of people from Judith Hill's Creative Talk class. From a diversity of backgrounds they shared two things that piqued my interest—a love of conversation and a bubbling sense of humour. So I rang Judith to find out what it is all about.

Judith Hill has been involved in Creative Talk since it's almost accidental inception over ten years ago.

Originally Kath Mullane and Ron Scott shared a fortnightly Literature discussion group but, to Ron's chagrin, Kath enjoyed talking. She enjoyed it a lot! When Ron finally complained that she was monopolising the lessons she decided to utilise alternate weeks for a class of her own where everybody could talk and discuss various topics. She called it Creative Talk.

When it became necessary for her to drop the course Judith Hill took over and has been leading the course for more than eight years. (Kath's many friends will be pleased to know that Kath is still alive but, quite elderly now, she is living with her daughter in an inner Sydney suburb.)

Judith said Creative Talk is better than Creative Writing (my class) because it's not necessary to write anything down!

It's a very popular class, boasting twenty-seven current members, with more than twenty attending every week. Judging by the group I met the sessions are entertaining, informative and comical—all at the same time!

Judith said that one benefit of the course is that it gives people who live alone the chance to come out and talk to somebody.

Each week the class selects a topic for discussion at the next session and in the past few weeks the topics have included phobias, necessities, convenience, and—wait for it!—all in wrestling. (I wonder if the phobia discussion got as far as arachibutyrophobia? It's a fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of your mouth.)

If you would like more information about Creative Talk or if you would like Judith Hill's phone number (best to ring after 7.00 pm) you should telephone the U3A Nepean office or send them an email by CLICKING HERE.