Welcome to our August 2024 Monthly Update.
Thank you and congratulations to all those who entered their artwork and crafts in our recent Art Exhibition held on 12 to 14 July 2024. A special thank you to all those tutors and volunteers who gave their time in setting up and dismantling the Exhibition and to all those volunteers who provided invaluable support during the three days. We could not have achieved this success without your support. Read the article later in this news update entitled “Crafting Creativity: A Vibrant Exhibition of Glen Eira U3A Talent”.
If you did not have a chance to attend the Exhibition, you can view photos on our website or on our new public Facebook page.
These photos capture the spirit and creativity of Glen Eira U3A. Take a look and be as amazed as I am about our tutors, volunteers and members.
Mark Rubinstein
President
Are You Ready? The 3G Phone Network Is Shutting Down
The 3G (Third Generation) mobile phone network is being phased out in order to provide availability for 4G and increasingly 5G networks, which are more efficient, deliver greater speed and capacity and better service.
The impacts of switching off the 3G network include not being able to connect to a network for phone service or make emergency calls to 000.
The main phone service providers are
- TPG Telecom/Vodafone – turned off their 3G network at the end of 2023
- Telstra (which also provides network services to ALDI, Belong, Boost and a number of other providers) will switch off its 3G network at the end of August 2024
- Optus (which also provides network services to amaysim, Coles and a number of other brands) will be switching off its 3G network at the end of September 2024
What does this mean for you if you are a using a 3G phone?
You need to check your phone to figure out whether your phone is currently 3G only or whether your phone has 4G capability.
You can find more information at AMTA.org.au/3G-closure/. You can send a text to the number 3498 and type 3 in the text message section to check if your mobile phone is or will be affected by the closure.
Is Your Email Address Changing?
For many years, internet service providers (Telstra, Optus, TPG and others) have provided free email accounts to their customers. Some of them are beginning to phase out this ‘free’ service. TPG – which also includes iiNet, Vodafone, Internode, AAPT, Westnet, Netspace, OzEmail and other brands – has already notified their customers that their email service will be transferred to a third-party company and, in future, will require a separate payment. For many of their customers, this transfer may have already occured. If your email account is provided by one of these services, please be alert to your email account changing. If it does change, please let us know, so that we can update your membership record.
There are other email providers who continue to provide an email account free of charge. Google’s free email service – Gmail – is one of the most commonly used.
Course Update – Enrol Now
24ART16: Watercolour Masterclass with Clive (Saturday, 7/09/24, 11.00-15.00)
Join celebrated artist, Clive Sinclair, for a masterclass in modern watercolour painting.
This masterclass is recommended for artists with some experience in the watercolour medium. During the masterclass, you will paint along with Clive.
To attend this masterclass, you will need to bring a pad of watercolour paper (300 GSM) and your own brushes and paints.
There is an admission fee of $40 per person.
The masterclass time is 11.00-15.00 (including a one-hour break for lunch).
Numbers are strictly limited so please enrol early and pay the fee promptly to avoid disappointment.
The invoice for the $40 fee will be generated when you enrol and should be paid promptly after you enrol. This can be done the same way that you pay your annual membership fee. Go to your membership details at https://gleneirau3a.org.au/members/ and log in, go to My Invoices in the left hand menu, and select the invoice for the course fee, which should appear in red. Click on the invoice to view the details and use any of the payment methods listed on the invoice.
24EXE10: Social & Casual Walking Group (Monday, 22/7/24- 25/11/24, 10.00-12.00)
Join the tutor, Maggie, for walks within the outskirts of Melbourne, including beach and bay tracks, forest walks, with options of car-pooling and public transport if required. Maggie is not a qualified walks leader, so everyone will be responsible for themselves and the others in the group.
The start time for walks will normally be 10.00am and the finish time will depend on our return from our destination. As the meeting place may alter for each walk, the tutor will advise members of the meeting point prior to the walk.
Members joining our walking group should have average fitness, be able to walk approx. 5-7 km depending on the group’s interest and have lots of enthusiasm! Members should also wear appropriate footwear and dress according to the weather conditions.
24SOC07: Mystery Suburban Train Trip & Lunch (1 day, Sunday, 29/9/24, 9.30-16.30)
Join the tutor, Margaret, for this mystery suburban train trip and then take a leisurely walk around this interesting old suburb, one of Melbourne’s first, with some historic facts as we stroll around the area. We will have time for a coffee or ice cream break. Lunch will be booked at a popular venue for 1.00pm.
We will meet at Caulfield Station at 10.00am for the 10.15 train and arrive at the mystery destination at 11.00am. We will return to the station around 3.00pm arriving back at Caulfield between 4.00-4.30pm.
Book now to secure a spot as numbers are limited. Cost: Myki seniors card $5.30 return plus lunch at own cost.
24SOC08: Trip to Werribee Park and Mansion (1 day, Sunday 27/10/24, 9.30-16.30)
Join the tutor Margaret, for this wonderful suburban day trip by train to Werribee Park, visiting the impressive old Chirnside Mansion and the adjacent State Rose Garden which should be in full bloom. Booking numbers will be limited so register your interest now.
Meeting at Caulfield Station at 9.30am for the 9.45am train and arriving at Werribee Station to take the 10-minute bus ride to Werribee Park arriving at 11.20am. We will inspect the Werribee Mansion and Rose Garden, which should be in full bloom ready for the racing season. We will then have lunch on-site, returning mid-afternoon to Caulfield arriving around 4.00-5.00pm.
Cost: Myki seniors card $5.30 return which includes the bus, Mansion entry fee $8.50, Rose Garden free, lunch at own cost.
Crafting Creativity: A Vibrant Exhibition of Glen Eira U3A Talent (written by Julie Badger, tutor)
The Visual Arts are flourishing in Glen Eira!
The recent Glen Eira U3A Art Exhibition was a vibrant showcase of creativity and craftsmanship. With contributions by students from 17 different classes, the exhibition spanned an impressive array of arts and crafts, from intricate macrame to stunning oil paintings. The result was a beautifully eclectic mix of artwork.
This was the first art exhibition held at U3A since 2019 and it was certainly worth the wait. Ninety-three students produced over 200 works of an impressively high standard, a tribute to themselves and the excellent teaching they have received. Many of the works were for sale and quite a few were sold. There was a steady stream of visitors throughout the three days of the exhibition. An electronic version of the exhibition catalogue can be found online.
On 12 July 2024, acclaimed Melbourne artist, Clive Sinclair provided a masterful demonstration of the art of watercolour painting. The exhibition was officially opened on 13 July by the Mayor of Glen Eira, Cr. Anne-Marie Cade, before an audience of 150 members and guests. Member for Caulfield, David Southwick MP, presented the various prizes, as listed below. This was followed by a delicious afternoon tea, thanks to the generosity of several sponsors.
Beyond the impressive artistry on display, the exhibition demonstrated the positive impact of art on well-being and community engagement. Congratulations to the organising committee on delivering such a successful project.
2024 Art Exhibition Prize Winners:
| Category | Prize Winner |
| Montage, Macrame, Knitting & Mixed Media | Sigal Levin |
| Montage, Macrame, Knitting & Mixed Media | Nicole Rose |
| Painting – acrylic | Trevor Ling |
| Painting – acrylic | Susan Blackburn |
| Painting – acrylic | Sandra O’Flynn |
| Painting – acrylic | Judy Thomson |
| Painting – oil | Valerie Conboy |
| Painting – oil | Diane Holwill |
| Painting – pastel | Judy Silman |
| Painting – pastel | Rosie Hersch |
| Painting – watercolour | Sandra O’Flynn |
| Painting – watercolour | Penny Cowie |
| Painting – watercolour | Robyn Lombardi |
| Painting – watercolour | Kylie Castan |
| Clay sculpture | Irene Savin |
| Clay sculpture | Lily Burrows |
| Drawing | Annabelle Taylor |
Health, Safety and Wellbeing Update – Use of Social Media
Glen Eira U3A encourages our members to connect with others or to share resources.
Members of Glen Eira U3A may wish to join social media chat groups, such as WhatsApp, that have been setup by class members to share information related to the course that they are attending. Such groups are setup independent of any official Glen Eira U3A process and joining these groups is voluntary and on an individual basis.
Glen Eira U3A has official advertising and communication approaches to print or platforms such as our website, Facebook and emails.
There are however some risks when using these formal platforms, such as Glen Eira U3A Facebook, or informal social media platforms such as WhatsApp groups. When using any social media platform, members should ensure that their communication is respectful and courteous and does not include any communication that could be perceived as, e.g. offensive, defamatory, threatening, bullying or that infringes copyright.
Our Code of Conduct Policy, and a soon-to-be released Use of Social Media Policy, sets out expectations of members and volunteers. You can find a copy at Reception or on our website at https://gleneirau3a.org.au/policies/.