Welcome to our May 2025 Monthly Update
Have Your Say – and Help Shape the Future of Glen Eira U3A
Do you want to help shape the future direction of our U3A and enhance the passion that drives it? Have you ever wondered what keeps everything running smoothly behind the scenes? Now’s your chance to find out — and to get involved.
We’re inviting you to share your thoughts, ideas, and feedback at our Have Your Say Afternoon Tea on Sunday, 25th May 2025 at 2.00pm. This won’t just be a chance to enjoy a warm cuppa and good company (and a sumptuous afternoon tea) — it’s also an opportunity to step into the heart of our organisation and discover how you can play a part in what makes U3A thrive.
Whether your involvement is small or significant, we’d love you to contribute. This is your chance to influence our priorities, help improve the experience for members and volunteers and even explore ways you might take on a role in the running of U3A. Every voice counts — and yours could be just what we need.
If you’ve ever been quietly curious about how decisions are made, how programs come together, or how volunteers keep everything ticking along, this is the perfect opportunity to connect and learn more.
Interested? Speak to one of your tutors and let them know you’d like to attend. Attendance will be by tutor nomination. So whether you’re a long-time member or new to the Glen Eira U3A community, we encourage you to come along, share your thoughts, and explore how you might get involved in shaping our vibrant future.
Also in this News Update, don’t forget to check out the exciting new courses now open for enrolment — and note some important updates to our key policies.
Mark Rubinstein
President
Upcoming Events
Hearing Van Visit – Wednesday 7 May, 2025 – 9.30 – 3.00. These free hearing tests are available at 15-minute intervals throughout the day. There are still some available so call (03) 9572 0571.
Those who wish to attend should contact Reception on (03) 9572 0571 or call in and add your name to the appointment list held at Reception. The Van will be situated in the Woolworths Car Park near our venue entrance.
Recorder Ensemble Concert“Love Is In The Air – Love Songs Through The Ages” on Sunday 1 June, 2025 – 3.00 pm start, followed by afternoon tea and entertainment by Badgers Buskers. Location: Glen Eira U3A, 1151 Glen Huntly Road, Glen Huntly.
Glen Eira U3A and Bentleigh U3A Choir Concert“Golden Oldies” on Sunday 22 June, 2025 – 1.00 pm start, followed by afternoon tea. Location: Glen Eira U3A, 1151 Glen Huntly Road, Glen Huntly.
2025 Courses for Enrolment
We continue to have new courses offered to our members and there are some courses with positions available. A list of courses with vacancies is always available on our website. Enrol now!
25SCI07 – Medical Topics Which Impact On All Of Us – Wednesday 13/8/25 and 20/8/25 –– short weekly course (9.30 to 11.00)
This course aims to empower participants to understand and contribute to healthcare personally and within the community. The first session deals with end-of life care. It describes the role of the family, and a range of caregivers. The second session deals with the interactions between patient care, medical research, and industry.
- Session 1: 13/8/25 – Medical Aspects of End-of-Life Care.
- Session 2: 20/8/25 – Medical Ethics case studies
Raymond Abratt is an Emeritus Professor of Radiation Oncology at the University of Cape Town and works remotely as Head of Clinical Governance at a large managed care organization in South Africa. He is the founding Editor-in Chief of the South African Journal of Oncology. He has lectured widely in Australia.
25LIT08: Writers: Every Good Story Begins with You – Tuesday 22/7/25 to 25/11/25 – fortnightly course (13.15 to 15.15)
This friendly, relaxed, encouraging class with like-minded people will support your desire to write. If they choose, writers will read their pieces to the group, share with participants any background to the story, selection of style, choice of words, general composition, challenges etc. If the writers invite feedback, class members would be welcome to respond. Further, if invited, class members can make supportive comments and suggestions. It is anticipated that each writer will have 5-10 minutes for this give and take. In addition, fun, brief, in-class writing exercises will be included to develop and extend your writing fluency. With a maximum of 8 in the class, we will have time to enjoy ourselves as creative writers together.
Note: this is a fortnightly course and the dates are 22/7, 5/8, 19/8, 2/9, 16/9, 30/9, 14/10, 28/10, 11/11 and 25/11.
Materials: members should bring pen and paper, or tablet for exercises.
25CRA07: Make a Mosaic Picture Frame – Wednesday 18/6/25 to 02/07/25 – short weekly course (13.00 to 15.00)
Join this fun and creative class to construct a mosaic picture frame. You will follow a step-by-step guide to bring your mosaic picture frame to life.
Members will need to purchase a mosaic kit for making a picture frame, e.g. Mandala Art Ocean Mosaic Photo Frame Craft Kit, available from Bunnings for $23. This kit will need to include the mosaic pieces, the board, glue and grout. No previous knowledge is required.
25GAM22: Pétanque: Come & Play with Us – Tuesday 8/4/25 to 25/11/25 – weekly course (11.00-13.00)
Whether you are new to the game of pétanque or returning to this game. Pétanque is a French bowls game and is played on our games court. It is played 2 against 2 or 3 against 3. Each player has 2 balls or “boules” and the aim is to toss your boule as close as possible to a small ball called a “cochonnet”. When one team has a boule closer to the cochonnet, the other team has to play until their boules come closer to the cochonnet. This is a friendly game and a sense of humour is welcome!
This is a self-managed course so everyone gives a hand getting the course ready.
- What to wear: loose or appropriate clothing for outside and comfortable shoes.
- Equipment will be provided.
- The course will only be played in fair weather and members will be advised when rain or heat makes it impossible to play.
25LANR01: Let’s Speak Russian – Tuesday 13/5/25 to 25/11/25 – weekly course (9.30-10.30)
This ‘Let’s Speak Russian’ course will start you on your journey of learning this language. This course will initially give you an introduction to Russian – what it sounds like, what are some of the common phrases and vocabulary, eg. introductions/food/shopping/travel etc. The course will then progress through to increasing grammar and improving vocabulary.
No prior knowledge of Russian is required.
25SCI06: Geology – An Introduction – Monday 21/7/25 to 24/11/25 – fortnightly course (9.30-11.30)
Join this fascinating course that looks at all aspects of geology: fossils, minerals, rocks, the geology of Victoria, gemstones, dinosaurs, building stones, plate tectonics etc.
This course will include some excursions. No prior knowledge is necessary.
25ART18: En Plein Air – Autumn – Sunday 04/05/25 – one day (10.00-15.00)
25ART19: En Plein Air – Winter – Sunday 03/08/25 – one day (10.00-15.00)
25ART20: En Plein Air – Spring – Sunday 12/10./25 – one day (10.00-15.00)
These courses give Glen Eira U3A artists a chance to practise their ‘plein air’ skills. We will go out to a carefully chosen location so we can practise drawing/watercolour/acrylic /any other medium works.
More information will be sent the week prior to each date to finalise meeting points. All of the dates are subject to change depending on weather and if cancelled, the course may be held the following Sunday.
25ART12: Create with Montage – Thursday 13/02/25 to 03/07/25 – fortnightly short course (9.30 to 11.30)
Cut and paste using environmental waste or sentimental finds to create an individual piece of art. This course will incorporate montage techniques and participants will create an art piece with impact using themes crafted from media such as pieces of decorative paper, letters of the alphabet, pictures of food, music sheets or photos. The tutor will select a montage theme each month and participants will create an individual piece of abstract or semi-realistic art by using that theme and montage techniques such as texture, reveal and combine.
25COM06 You Can Manage Your Medications Online – Tuesday 14/10/25 to 21/10/25 short weekly course ( 13.30 to 15.00)
You can manage your prescriptions through a mobile application. Your local pharmacy may even have their own application which can help you more easily manage your prescriptions.
This course will provide guidance with apps that can list your medications, create reminders for taking medicines, automate reminders that let you know when it’s time to fill your recurring scripts and enable ordering them on-line. Additionally, the course will introduce participants to myHealthRecord and the Senior’s Health Card.
25GAM19C to 25GAM19H: Golf Croquet: Come & Learn – Thursday, short weekly course, (10.00 to 14.00)
- May – 01/05/25 to 29/95/25
- June – 05/06/25 to 26/06/25
- August – 07/08/25 to 28/08/25
- September – 04/09/25 to 25/09/25
- October – 09/10/25 to 30/10/25
- November – 06/11/25- 27/11/25
Learn the exciting game of Golf Croquet, a classic lawn game that offers gentle exercise and strategic thinking.
Over four weeks you will develop the skills to navigate through challenging hoops and develop clever tactics. Croquet is an excellent way to meet new people and make friends, fostering a sense of camaraderie. You will be given the opportunity to practice and play with others to improve your skills and understanding of the game.
News from the Health, Safety and Wellbeing Team
We have recently updated some of our key policies, and we invite all members to take a look. These include an amended Code of Conduct Policy, a brand-new Social Media Use Policy, and also a new Issue Resolution Procedure, which replaces our previous Grievance and Dispute Policy. These changes reflect our ongoing efforts to keep things clear, fair, and friendly for everyone involved in our U3A community.
The policies are available on our website and displayed on our Notice board. You can also ask for a copy at Reception.
We have worked hard to make these documents easy to read and understand, with a strong focus on encouraging respectful, considerate behaviour—particularly towards our wonderful volunteers and dedicated Tutors, who help make U3A such a great place to learn and connect.
We truly value the input and cooperation of all our members, so please take a moment to review the updated policies on our website or request a printed copy if that is easier for you.
Thank you for helping us keep U3A a welcoming and supportive environment for all.
CAN YOU HELP? GARDEN SHREDDER/MULCHER NEEDED
On Friday April 11, the Glen Eira Council kindly lent our volunteer Gardening Group two of their Parks and Gardens personnel, the acting Coordinator of Open Space, Cameron Tasker and Anna-Maria Vigliarolo, Acting Team Leader Turf and Streetscapes. In a one and a half hour walk around our U3A gardens with members of the Garden Group, they gave advice as to how best to rejuvenate the garden. As a consequence, there will be much cutting back and replanting.
We would be most grateful if any Glen Eira U3A member has access to a garden shredder/mulcher and is willing to lend it to us for up to a month or so – this would mean a huge reduction in our green waste plus the benefit of being recycled into mulch for the garden.
If you can help with a garden shredder/mulcher, please contact Reception on (03) 9572 0571.