U3A March 2016 Newsletter Visit our website: www.u3apenrith.org.au Ph.: 4722 3405 Page 1

Our hall at U3A Penrith (3 Castlereagh St) is available for hire for private functions. For details call Harry May on 4732 1520 - Cost: $15.40 per hour - includes GST.

Kitchen facilities also available at additional cost.

SOCIAL CALENDAR - 2016 SENIORS WEEK MARCH BIGGEST MORNING TEA THURSDAY, 26 MAY INTERNATIONAL FOOD FEST MONDAY, 8 AUGUST ITALIAN LUNCHEON MONDAY, 11 SEPTEMBER U3A BALL SATURDAY, 24 SEPTEMBER TUTOR’S & VOLUNTEERS LUNCH FRIDAY, 8 OCTOBER ART EXHIBITION FRIDAY 28 OCTOBER TO SUNDAY 30 OCTOBER ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING THURSDAY, 10 NOVEMBER CHRISTMAS PARTY FRIDAY, 9 DECEMBER WINE TASTING/BEER FEST TO BE ADVISED WINE TASTING WEEKEND TO BE ADVISED

KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR MORE DETAILS ON THESE EVENTS AND FOR ADDITIONAL EVENTS IN 2016.

NEW MEMBERSHIP AND MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL- 2016 THESE ARE BEING ACCEPTED NOW EITHER BY MAIL OR AT OUR OFFICE

3 CASTLEREAGH STREET, PENRITH

Next time you’re in the office renew your membership for 2016 Last Chance for Renewal

Term Dates for Term 1 – Monday, 1 February to Friday, 10 April Seniors Week Penrith City Council is RE-IMAGINAGING Seniors week 2016, The week will extend to 10 days from 1st April to 10th April. U3A is becoming involved with a number of activities to help make the event more interesting for all the seniors of the Penrith Valley. Some of these activities will be held at Pop-Up-Park situated at the western end of High St and some will be held at the Penrith School of Arts. Please keep an eye on our next newsletter and our notice board for further information.

U3A NEPEAN BLUE MOUNTAINS INC.

3 Castlereagh St. Phone: 4722 3405 Penrith NSW 2750 Web Page: www.u3apenrith.org.au PO box 958 Penrith, 2751 Email: u3a@u3apenrith.org.au

Newsletter, March, 2016

U3A March 2016 Newsletter Visit our website: www.u3apenrith.org.au Ph.: 4722 3405 Page 2

Blaxland Gem and Mineral Club Open Day – May 7, 9.00 am-3.30 pm

Come along and seehow to turn rocks into works of art

Workshop demonstrations Stone slab, jewellery etc for sale

Sausage sizzle

The Valley Rd Off Great Western H’way

Valley heights Bus Trips – 2016 Bass & Flinders Lunch Cruise Our first bus trip for this year will be on Wednesday 23 March, 2016. Your Hopkinson’s coach departs Panthers car park at 8.30am. We travel to Woronora River Reserve for morning tea. After morning tea we travel on to Sans Souci wharf to board the “Bass & Flinders” for a luncheon cruise. The cruise takes in the picturesque waters of the Georges River and Botany Bay. You will be entertained with interesting commentary and lots of history. Cost of this trip is $70.00 per person. This trip is sure to be a sell out. Bookings taken from Monday 29 February, 2016. In view of expected high numbers for this trip, I have booked an additional number of seats on the boat, and have an additional bus on standby. Please book early so I can see if the 2nd bus is warranted. Many thanks, Brenda

Other bus trips booked for this year are “Industry World Port Kembla” on Tuesday 17 May, 2016 and “Fairground Follies” on Wednesday 10 August, 2016.

Theatre Bookings for 2016 I have booked 40 tickets for “Fiddler on the Roof” 1.00pm matinee at the Capital Theatre on Wednesday 27 April, 2016. These tickets are $65.00 per person. Bookings for these tickets open on Monday 8 February, 2016 and close on Friday 26 February, 2016 if not sold out beforehand.

Other bookings to go on sale later in the year are for “Singing in the Rain” on Wednesday 31 August, 2016 and “My Fair Lady” on Tuesday 27 September, 2016. Brenda Emerson, Secretary

Trip to France – September/October 2016 The Tuesday morning French class is considering a trip to France around September/October in 2016. If we have sufficient numbers, we can design our own tour, and get a travel company to organise it. A tentative, but definitely not final, itinerary would include Paris, Rheims (champagne country), Troyes, Lyons/Dijon, The upper Loire valley for the chateaux (Tours/Amboise), head south west towards Bordeaux, then north along the coast including Mont St Michel, Honfleur, and possibly the Normandy beaches.We anticipate this taking between 4 to 6 weeks. I am asking for expressions of interest only at this stage. Once we have numbers, and a definite itinerary worked out, we will be able to get costings from the travel company. If you are interested, please contact me at warren.nicholls@gmail.com with "Proposed France trip" in the subject line, or ring me on 0439192202. Warren Nicholls

U3A March 2016 Newsletter Visit our website: www.u3apenrith.org.au Ph.: 4722 3405 Page 3

Tuesday Talks – 22 March and 5 April, 1.30 pm – 3.00 pm To TEN or not to TEN – That is the question – with Pat McKeon at Penrith School of Arts on Tuesday

22nd March at 1:30 PM. This talk is for people who are considering installing Windows 10 on their computer or tablet.

Games and Pastimes on your computer: with Pat McKeon, at Penrith School of Arts on Tuesday 5th April at 1:30 – 3:00 PM

o Games on the computer can range from 5 minute card games , Mah Jong, Sudoku, Scrabble etc. to much more complex and complicated puzzles and action games, many of which are free to play

o This talk will cover: How to find and install official Windows Games How to find and add games to google Safe websites on the internet for playing or downloading games Safe websites for various hobbies and pastimes.

The Arms of Australia Inn Museum – Volunteers Required Do you like history and working with children? The Nepean District Historical Society, which operates out of the Arms of Australia Inn Museum at Emu Plains, holds regular hands-on school tours for students aged 7 to 10 to learn more about our history. We are looking for people who have a few hours free to assist us with these tours. The only requirement is that a ‘Working with Children Check’ is done as required by law. For further information, please contact Carmel on 0407 247 806

News about Courses Course Alterations Tuesday and Friday Tai Chi Class – please note Marie’s email is mar-stew1@bigpond.com

The Everyday Experience of Mind and Soul with Lloyd Fell (4751 8835) – Springwood Presbyterian Church, Macquarie Road, Springwood: Monday 2.00 pm – 3.30 pm (fortnightly)

Happiness, What Does It Mean? With Janice Poulson (4751 5115) – Postponed for Term 1

Introduction to Award Winning Novelists with Sharon Willett-Davies – cancelled

Decorating Cup Cakes – Continuing and Beginners with Sue West (0429 615 221) now being held in the Floribunda Community Centre, Floribunda Avenue, Glenmore Park – Thursdays 9.30 am – 11.30 am (continuing) and 12.00 noon – 2.00 pm (beginners)

Recreational Mathematics with Len Smith CANCELLED

Ramblers Walking Group with Neridah Yule (9833 0394) – Thursdays 9.30 am – 11.00 approx. CANCELLED

New Courses (more information on the website)

NEW>>>U3A is offering to form a group dedicated to sharing a

musical experience>>>

U3A March 2016 Newsletter Visit our website: www.u3apenrith.org.au Ph.: 4722 3405 Page 4

while developing Guitar, Ukulele and Song Writing Techniques in Term 2. The techniques presented will begin at

the simplest level in an atmosphere of mutual help and enjoyment in the experience.

Venue: Springwood Uniting Church, Lewin Street, Springwood

Day and Time Friday, 1.00 pm – 3.00 pm

Co-ordinator: Kevin Clayton P: 4739 4418 E: bonzo400@gmail.com

If you would like to play guitar and/or ukulele, sing a song or two, learn a little about music, maybe write a song

for somebody’s birthday, this group may help you get started. Simplified rock, country, pop and blues examples

will be used to get us started with strumming and humming. Several ukuleles are available as are a couple of

spare guitars for those who have yet to acquire one. Kevin has helped other groups to learn guitar and ukulele

but mutual help, encouragement and enjoyment is the primary aim. Contact Kevin for

further information.

Tai Chi for Arthritis & Falls Prevention (Beginners at Springwood) with Lennette Ruttle (4735 1542) – waiting list only.

Photography at St Marys with Ron Atkinson (0425 233 987) – Wednesday 9.00 am – 11.00 am.

Saturday, 12th March 2016– 7.30 pm

“The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel”

As the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel has only a single remaining vacancy - posing a rooming predicament for two fresh arrivals - Sonny pursues his expansionist dream of opening a second hotel.

Director: John Madden

Starring: Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Bill Nighy

U3A March 2016 Newsletter Visit our website: www.u3apenrith.org.au Ph.: 4722 3405 Page 5

Vale Olwyn Park

Passed away Tuesday, 23 February Sadly missed from the Musical Memories Class

U3A 2015 Committee: Office Bearers:

President Jim Tiberi 9623 6327 Vice President (Penrith) Harry May 4732 1520 Vice President (Blue Mountains) Reg Grace 4739 4843 Secretary & Social Committee Brenda Emerson 4721 1735 Treasurer Linda Sinclair 4739 2297 Curriculum Convener Richard Todd 4739 3160

Committee Members Hall Manager Brenda Maccioni 9670 5044 Functions Manager Chris Price 4731 3931 Assistant Function Manager Marie McLennan 0421 892 945 Grants Manager Tony Lackey 4731 6823 Newsletter Editor Ruth Todd 4739 3160 Membership Officer Fay Love 4735 5226

Next committee meeting: Tuesday, 8 March, 2016, at 1.30 PM

Disclaimer: Articles contributed to this newsletter and published are done so as a service to members, they do not necessarily reflect the opinion or policy of this organisation. Articles are intended as opinions and items of debate only and should not be acted on without expert advice. Suggestion Box

It has been suggested that we have a “Suggestion Box”….that’s a good suggestion!! The physical box, like a post box, has largely been replaced by Email, but the traditional purpose of obtaining comments, questions, and requests, still exist and is useful for collecting information with input from our members and guests. Considering how wide spread U3A Nepean Blue Mountains is, there are a number of ways of

submitting your suggestions, by Email to u3apenrith.org.au or by letter to P.O. Box 958 Penrith 2751 or simply drop a note in the box on the door of the office at Penrith School of Arts.

Important phone numbers for seniors: Emergency 000 Seniors Card 137 7888 Centrelink-Retirement 132 300 Elder abuse helpline 1800 628 221 NSW seniors information 6282 3777 Older persons legal service 9281 3600 Department of veteran affairs 133 254

U3A March 2016 Newsletter Visit our website: www.u3apenrith.org.au Ph.: 4722 3405 Page 6

Reliable Tradesmen for our members We are compiling a list of “honourable” tradespeople that our members can contact if they need work done at home. This list will be drawn from our members who have had a good experience with any trade person who has done work for them at home. If you know a good, honest and reliable tradesman, please let us know, we will then contact them and inform them that we would like to put them on our list of “Honourable” tradesmen that our members can contact. Send your “honourable” tradesmen details to: u3a@u3apenrith.org.au or mail the information to U3A, P.O. Box 958 Penrith 2751.

OUR HONOUR LIST SO FAR: The following people know U3A and have agreed to look after our members.

CAR CARE Mick King Automotive Jason King -4735 3057 33 Bromley Road, Emu Plains

ELECTRICAL Hix Electrical Ian or Mark Phone 4721 7500

AIR CONDITIONING Lower Mountains Air Supply John Du Rieu 0414 527 337 or 4739 2089

COMPUTER REPAIRS Understandable IT Liam Pool 0407 919 377 PLUMBING AND GAS FITTING SERVICES D & B Scott

Plumbing, Drainage and Gas Fitting - Daryl Scott

Blaxland East

4739 9675

U3A March 2016 Newsletter Visit our website: www.u3apenrith.org.au Ph.: 4722 3405 Page 7

An invitation from Penrith City Garden Club

Do you love gardening? Did you know there is a great garden club

in Penrith? If not, it’s time you found out.

Penrith City Garden Club offers a great program of speakers and activities. A

typical club meeting includes a speaker with expertise in his or her field, a

show table for people to exhibit specimens from their gardens in a spirit of

friendly competition, a fun auction of plants propagated by members, a brief

business meeting and supper. It is a warm and friendly club. We also arrange

drive-arounds to other people’s gardens, including some civic gardens, purely social outings and much

We meet on the third Monday of each month, except December, at 7.30 pm

– 9.00 pm in the Community Church, corner of Cam and Cambridge Streets,

Cambridge Park. Membership fees are $20.00 single and $30.00 joint. There

is also a one-off joining fee of $10.00, which is waived if you show your U3A

membership card. You are welcome to visit before joining: next meeting is

Monday 21st March - I hope to see you there.

Check out our website www.penrithcitygardenclub.org.au or find us on

Facebook www.facebook/penrithcitygardenclub

Send us news and views from your course for inclusion in our newsletter. We would like to hear from all Tutors and Students regarding any comments, suggestions and photographs of their courses. If appropriate, we will publish your submissions in our Newsletters and on our Website. Please keep your notes, including any photographs, to about a third of a page in length and supply them to us in a digital format (by Email preferably). Contact Richard Todd 4739 3160 or Email: rtodd@southernphone.com.au

If you haven’t renewed your membership you are no longer a member of U3A.

To reapply for membership fill out a 2016 membership form

and return it to our office with the $35 membership fee.

If you do not renew your membership you are not eligible to attend any U3A activities.

U3A March 2016 Newsletter Visit our website: www.u3apenrith.org.au Ph.: 4722 3405 Page 8

2016 Adolfo Gonzalez’s Spanish Class at Penrith School of Arts

2016 Bett Master’sYoga Class at Penrith School of Arts

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