Our Golf Groups
Our main Golf For Fun Group plays on Tuesday and Friday mornings at Yarrambat Golf Club. The leader of the group is Alan Clayton.
In addition, in some terms, we have golf workshops for beginners led by Abe Kelabora.
Apr 092024
Dec 182023
Our Choir
Our Choir meets on Saturday afternoons at Old Eltham Courthouse under the leadership of Lyndsey Byrnes.
Dec 172023
Posts by various of our classes
The posts below include the following classes:
- Cycling Group (by Raeanne McLean).
- Diamond Valley Big Band (by Rosemarie Jaeger).
- Greek (by Jan Taylor).
- Hurstbridge Creative Writing Group (by Pam Kemeys and June Rushton).
- Luncheon Club (by Abe Kelabora).
- Mahjong (by Maree Papworth).
- Music Tutti (by Maree Krohn and Bob Stubbings).
- Play Cards Afternoon (by Mike Rich).
- Poetry Through the Ages (by Noel Butterfield).
- Pot Painting (by Lisa Attrill).
- Power Tools (by Lisa Attrill).
- Second Tuesday Book Club (by Sue Lloyd).
- Shakespeare Rocks (by Noel Butterfield).
- Tai Chi.
- Weirdness of Light (by Guy Palmer).
- Yoga.
Dec 162023
The Writing Workshop
This class began in Term 1, 2023 when it became evident that the two other writing classes were full. Friends, Jan Taylor and Lynne Geary, decided to put themselves forward as co-coordinators of another such group; this encouraged them to write regularly and created another opportunity for Nillumbik U3A members with an interest in writing. Given neither considered themselves to be creative writing teachers, they structured the sessions in the form of hosted collaborative workshops. The idea was to attract members who were already writing and who wanted support for their writing process.
The group went from strength to strength throughout 2023, with a steady membership of eight and a ninth member joining the group later. Memoir was a strongly favoured genre, but fiction, plays, poetry and creative non-fiction focusing on travel and other issues were also contributed. As a celebration of the camaraderie and collaborative spirit of the group, not to mention the wonderful writing output, the group decided to contribute one of each of their best pieces to post here on the Nillumbik U3A website.
In alphabetical order, the following pieces have been submitted:
Dec 162023
Jazz Appreciation Group
The Jazz Appreciation Group meets each Monday afternoon under the leadership of John Crichton.
Dec 092023
Our guest speakers
Every fortnight during term time, we organise for someone to give a presentation to which any of our members can attend. Thanks to Cath Bauman and Pam Griffith for organising. Here are the talks over the past few years.
Nov 132023
Our Walking Groups
We have three walking groups: our original Walking Group led by Kay Bichard and others, our Gentle Walking Group led by Pam Griffith and others, and our Slow and Steady Walking Group led by Suzanne Teese and others.
May 082023
Our Mahjong Groups
Our morning Mahjong Group meets each Tuesday morning at Eltham Central Pavilion under the leadership of Maree Papworth.
Our afternoon Mahjong Group meets each Tuesday afternoon at Eltham Central Pavilion under the leadership of Lyn Frazer.
Apr 162023
Zentangles and Mandala Design
Zentangles and mandalas are both forms of art doodling, with mandalas being more structured/mathematical/geometrical than zentangles.
The Zentangles and Mandala Design class meets on Tuesday afternoons.
Says Lyn Colenso, erstwhile tutor of the group: “Some people feel inadequate when it comes to art and shy away from it completely. The wonderful thing with zentangles and mandalas is that they are fabulous forms of doodling that anyone can learn how to do. Nothing is a mistake. Anyone can pick up the techniques easily and, in so doing, often get hooked in the process. It is so relaxing and therapeutic too.”
Mar 132023
Our Painting and Drawing groups
We have a number of art groups who meet in different suburbs on different days. They create their art work in a variety of media using a diverse mix of skills. Our tutors include Leanne Ipsen, Brenda Smith and Valerie Osborne.
Here are some of their videos.
| The group in action (15 minutes). | The group in action (3 minutes). |
| The Story Serpent at Eltham Bookshop. | Leanne Ipsen demonstrates her equipment for acrylic painting. |
| Leanne demonstrates her outdoor painting technique. | Brenda Smith introduces watercolour painting. |
| Jo Ball demonstrates ‘flow painting’. | Colleen Hall discusses oil painting. |
Nov 102022
The Collaborative Writers’ Workshop
“The wild wind raged across the open plain. It pushed through the cracks in the old cabin where Ali waited and shivered under a threadbare blanket.” So you like to write but need a supportive community to share your work with. Our workshop may just be what you’re looking for. We offer ideas, encouragement and support, and also share our own writing experiences.” Fridays, 9-11am.
April Edwards
Here are links to the various stories below.
Sep 182022
Our morning teas
From time to time, we organise morning tears, either for the whole membership or for new members. Thanks to Carole Meade, Dianne Parslow, Pam Griffith, Rhonda McPhee and Suzanne McNally for organising. Here are some of the morning teas over the past few years.
Jun 182022
Our guided tours
From time to time, we organise a guided tour around some notable, local location. Thanks to Cathy Romeo and Pam Griffith for organising. Here are the guided tours over the past few years.
May 072022
Our marketing activities
This blog summarises some of our marketing activities over the past few years.
Here is a video which covers many of the classes that we offer.
Apr 162022
Poetry through the Ages
The Poetry through the Ages class meets on Wednesday mornings. The tutors are Noel Butterfield and Susan Lloyd.
Mar 142022
Our fundraising activities
This blog summarises some of our fundraising activities over the past few years.
Fundraising can actually be fun as it brings some of our members together to do something which is both social and helps our U3A.
Mar 132022
Poems by our members
Various poems by various of our members.
Also, see some poems written by our Poetry through the Ages group, Lyn Richard’s poems about birds and Andrew Leopold’s poems about Eltham.
Mar 132022
Stories by our members
Various stories and songs by various of our members.
- Andrew Leopold: In Switzerland.
- Brenda Smith: Discovering new bush walks.
- Brenda Smith: Just give us a week.
- Brenda Smith: Testing positive.
- Chris Livingstone: Kyiv not Kiev.
- Chris Livingstone: Putin’s war.
- Chris Livingstone: Updating your geography.
- Diane Baird: A life in six words.
- Diane Baird: Yoga in a moon boot.
- Gareth McDonnell: A morning walk.
- Gayle Considine: Car trouble.
- Graeme Sweeney: Coronavirus solitude.
- Helen Costello: The black cat finds his way.
- Jan Mackenzie: Uncle Bob Randall.
- John Conley: Great Expectations.
- John Jenkins: The flower in the buttonhole.
- John Jenkins: The stars shine for Bach.
- John Jenkins: Under his hat.
- John O’Connor: A close encounter of the kangaroo-thump kind.
- John O’Connor: A day of frilly knickers and beetroot stains.
- John O’Connor: Betty’s big birthday bash.
- John O’Connor: Our locked-down human friend checks his inbox.
- John Robertson: Covid-19 – early days.
- Judy Vizzari: Corona clouded.
- Leslie O’Connell: Belize.
- Lesley Alves: Melbourne’s best kept secret.
- Lesley Alves: Today is National Wattle Day.
- Lindsay Byrnes: Escape to adventure.
- Lindsay Byrnes: Island holiday memories.
- Lindsay Byrnes: Tom the killer whale.
- Maralyn Frances: Essential Covid-19 non-essentials.
- Maralyn Frances: The hug.
- Neil Taylor: Corona crisis.
- Serena Sweeney: Echo from the past.
- Sue Lloyd: Corona story.
- Terry Marston: Footprints in the sand.
- Terry Marston: Wishes.
- Tess Evans: A song with apologies to Bob Dylan.
Also, see some stories written by our Collaborative Writing group and some other stories written by our Writing Workshop.
Jan 132022
The Cooking Group
The Cooking Group is currently in abeyance. Under Vasundhara Kandpal’s leadership, they used to cook three or four plant-based dishes each week, which they then ate together over lunch. Vasundhara shares one of her recipes in this blog.
Apr 232021
Life Changing Events in History
The Life Changing Events in History class has now concluded. This blog provides some of Andrew Leopold’s presentations to that class.
Mar 242021
Our Craft Group
Our Craft Group meets each Friday afternoon at the Hurstbridge Bowling Club. The leader of the group is Cheryl Winstanley.
Nov 152020
The Travel blog
Various presentations of various holidays in various styles by various presenters.
- Alaska (by Dianne Parslow).
- Argentina (by Dianne Parslow).
- Argentina and Antarctica (by Maree Papworth).
- Brazil (by Dianne Parslow).
- Bulgaria (by Gillian Essex).
- Canada (by Dianne Parslow).
- Chile (by Dianne Parslow).
- Coober Pedy (by Guy Palmer).
- Cuba (by Brenda Smith).
- Florence (by Judy Vizzari).
- France, Spain and the UK (by Dianne Parslow).
- Greece (by Dianne Parslow).
- Ireland (by Dianne Parslow).
- Islands of Australia (by Dianne Parslow).
- Italy (by Dianne Parslow).
- Kinglake National Park (by Dianne Parslow).
- Mallacoota (by Dianne Parslow).
- Morocco (by Dianne Parslow).
- Myanmar (by Dianne Parslow).
- Nepal (by Gillian Essex).
- Norway (by Dianne Parslow).
- Portugal (by Dianne Parslow).
- South America (by Pat Rhys-Jones).
- The Balkan Peninsula (by Pat Rhys-Jones).
- Timor Leste and West Timor (by Pat Rhys-Jones).
- The Galapagos Islands and The Amazon (by Guy Palmer).
- Turkey (by Gillian Essex).
- USA (by Dianne Parslow).
- Vietnam and Cambodia (by Dianne Parslow).
- Yemen (by Maree Papworth).
Aug 242020
Astronomy and Cosmology
The Astronomy and Cosmology class used to meet on Tuesday afternoons (some terms only). The tutor was John O’Connor.
Jul 192020
Climate Change and Renewable Energy
Our Climate Change and Renewable Energy class has now ended.
Feb 242020
Our First Nations Class
Much of this blog comprises a series of articles written by Jim Poulter. Thank you, Jim, for your generosity in sharing the articles with us!.
- Farms without fences (pdf).
- Aboriginal thought systems (pdf).
- Aboriginal society (pdf).
- The collisions of worlds (pdf).
- The Kulin seasons (pdf).
- First contact in Port Phillip (pdf).
- The impacts of colonisation (pdf).
- Surviving colonisation (pdf).
Jim has tutored U3A classes in Australian History for many years and is a frequent guest speaker at our First Nations class. He also writes the ‘Birrarung Stories‘ for the Warrandyte Diary newspaper. Jim has known and worked with many iconic Aboriginal Elders and tribal people who have trusted him with their knowledge.
Feb 192020
The Wine Appreciation Groups
We have a number of wine appreciation groups. Wine Appreciation runs in some terms only. It is an introductory course about wine and is led by Karen Coulston. The other groups are monthly luncheon or dinner events which are only open to people who have previously done the Wine Appreciation course.
In August 2018, the Wine Appreciation group gathered at Karen Coulston’s house in Yarrambat to bottle some wine that they had previously made. Watch a 5 minute video of the day.