Noel Butterfield – shakespeare rocks; poetry through the ages

This profile was written in 2016 Term 2.

I’m a 70 year old baby boomer who has spent 40 plus years teaching in both the private and public sectors. I retired in 2001.

I have always been interested in the life of the community I live in and always make sure I become involved. While teaching at Broadford Secondary College in 1983 I chaired the local Council Committee that addressed entering the first Keep Australia Beautiful Tidiest Town. In this State wide ‘competition’ we defeated 100 towns on a wide range of criteria. We won outright in all categories and all divisions.

My community involvement continued throughout my teaching career. In the ‘90’s I was Principal of Nauru Primary School and Deputy Principal of Nauru Secondary College. Nauru is a harsh, oppressive environment for anyone to work in. I care for the Nauruans and am saddened by the oppressive corruption that has destroyed the Nauruan inhabitant’s spirit.

I appeared on a Four Corners program which conducted an exposé of this forlorn little nation. I would relish the opportunity to talk about my time in Nauru.

My love for drama and the theatre has been with me since my earliest days. When teaching in Broadford I directed Slaughter in Suburbia, Brigadoon and a number of other productions. When I moved to Yarrawonga I directed C. J. Denis’s Songs of the Sentimental Bloke. When I was not directly involved in a production I assumed the mantle of ‘guest critic’ which led to a postgraduate Diploma of Freelance Journalism.

I love teaching and regard it as a privilege to still be involved. I hope my tutoring repays the opportunity U3A has afforded me. If it wasn’t for U3A my life would not be as enriched as it is. Surely U3A is the vehicle that gives its members a real reason for getting out of bed in the morning — this is a time for moments of intellectual stimulation in social settings that thrive on friendships and shared interests. U3A fulfils a valuable purpose in our lives.

Oh, just in case you have nothing to do with your feet, let them guide you along the path to our U3A and then to Shakespeare Rocks and Armchair Theatre. Then you can join in our exploration of the wonder of language, drama and theatre.