Port Macquarie—Watonga U3A Inc.
Term 2 - 2015
Patron:
Dr Mary E White
27th April - 19th June 2015
President’s Message
Space Exploration, invention and development
of telescopes, mapping the sky with Constellations, signs of the Zodiac, Celestial Navigation
and its practical application, current news in
Astronomy and Space Exploration, other astronomical related topics.
How quickly time passes. Term 1 has
ended and our new Term will start on
Monday 27 April. Our new Astronomy
course is off to a good start with only
a small group of participants. We
have a very knowledgeable presenter, who has
Convenor: Rodney
a variety of interesting learning materials to
display. Remember that any of us may sit in Magic of Art
on one session of any course at no cost. Why In term 2 we will continue the journey to innot take a free taster session.
clude the post impressionists such as Van
The early bird cut off for term 2 course fees is Gogh, Cezanne, Gauguin etc. New Members
13 April 2015. Please note: Members may are very welcome.
now use electronic banking to pay subscripConvenor: Jacqui
tions and course fees. See page 4.
Enjoy the break! Happy Easter.
Course Convenor Reports
Staying ahead of Technology
Our computer group continues to do well. In
term 1 we covered a lot of ground, including
Planet Earth
using the two fundamental parts of any office
We will continue our voyage of discovery about suite, namely word processing and spreadour planet, how it has evolved to the place we sheets.
now live in and the multitude of things that
In term 2 we will carry on and explore two
keep it in a stable state and liveable, using two
other components of an office suite, desk top
DVD lecture sets. The first is "How the Earth
publishing
and
making
presentations.
Works" presented by Prof. Michael Wysession
Desk top publishing will enable us to make our
of Washington University, St. Louis and the
own cards, posters, newsletters etc. and
second is "The Big Bang, Life on Earth, and the
presentations will let us make the sort of autoRise of Humanity presented by Prof. David
matic slide shows often seen at birthdays and
Christian of Macquarie University.
anniversaries.
Convenor—Bob
We will also spend a couple of weeks on more
Astronomy
fundamental computer issues, such as how to
set up your new computer for free using open
We continue from Term 1 with discussions on
source software, and customising your comthe Solar System. objects outside our Solar
puter to better suit your needs. We will of
System but within our Milky Way Galaxy, ob- course continue to spend some time each sesjects outside the Milky Way Galaxy, a history sion dealing with members problems as they
of astronomical observation, including pioneers arise.
in the science. Means of observing the sky,
continued on page 2
Present plans are to make Term 3 a Basic
Digital Photography Course, starting off
with taking the pictures and then going on to
enhance them using the computer. Other
U3A members might wish to join this class in
Term 3. Please let Brian or Harry know if you
would like to attend this term 3 Course.
We are a friendly group, and our sessions are
as social as they are technical. We don't assume a lot of knowledge. You don't have to
be an expert to join us, but should have a
few very basic computer skills.
Convenors: Brian and Harry
THURSDAY
MAH-JONG
Mah-Jong is still popular and well attended
and afternoon tea is the time when we catch
up with each others news.
Fortunately Brian’s health continues to improve. Desiree has not been able to return
since her operation but she continues to do
well and we look forward to seeing her back
at the tables soon. There are no reports of
health worries among our other (ageing)
members.
expected our political viewpoints are varied
but unlike Parliament Question Time we allow
varying points of view to be discussed, while
remaining polite and courteous.
Allowing for the odd illness and holiday absences we are currently at strength commensurate with seating and room size. However,
if a member shows a desire to join the
group, they are welcome to attend, on a one
off basis, as an observer with no course fee
for the first week.
Convenor: Maureen Johnston
Let’s Do Lunch
Singles Dining/Lunch Group.
Six people attended our first 'Let's Do Lunch'
at Sea Acres. We had a great time and are
looking forward to the next one. The group
is almost full already, so if you are interested
come along to the next one and see if you
want to continue. (This group is for 'singles' i.e. people not accompanied by partners.)
I have booked our next lunch for SUNDAY 12
April at 12 o'clock, at the Rivermark Café,
261 Hastings River Drive. We should be given a table overlooking the water. If you have
any
questions
please
email
me
at
Audrey has decided to run a few Mah-Jong
[email protected]
classes for would-be members on Wednesday afternoons from 2 — 4.30 pm at her
Convenor: Gayl Rovere
house. If you know anyone who would like to
join and needs either to learn or to brush-up
Book Readers Groups
their skills, call Audrey on 6582 4036 to
make arrangements.
We have two book readers groups:
Convenors: Audrey Bryant and Chris
Nunn
Wagtales: Meets on Tuesday afternoons.
This group is up to full strength and has no
vacancies. The group convenor is Jacqui.
Current Affairs Discussion Group
Bookworms: Meets on Wednesday mornThis group meets every Tuesday at 09.30 ings. This group is also up to strength with
until 11.30 am and the first half of the morn- no vacancies. The Group convenor is Janey.
ing is dedicated to a general discussion on
events that have occurred during the week. Note: Contact details for the above courses
After tea/coffee break in 10.30 we then dis- and activities can be found on page 3.
cuss a subject, not necessarily current afEditor
fairs, which the members have elected to Harry Bryant
talk about from the previous week. As can be
2015 Term 2 Courses and Activities
27th April - 29th June 2015
All courses are $25.00 per term — Courses shown with an asterisk * = no course fee
Members who register for courses by Monday 13th April will benefit from an early-bird discount of
$5.00 for each course.
Term 2
0930—1200
Monday
Tuesday
* MONDAY MAH-JONG
CURRENT AFFAIRS
DISCUSSION GROUP
Maureen Johnston
(65820056)
0930—1130
(Mac Adams Centre)
(Audrey & Harry’s
home, gold coin)
No
Vacancies
Wednesday
Friday
* COMMITTEE MEETING
(Third Friday at
President’s home)
Astronomy
10.00-12.00
Thursday
PLANET EARTH
Convenor: Bob Morgan
Convenor: Rodney
Neasbey
(65844368)
(0437760035)
(Tel:6584 9455)
(Emerald Downs
Community Centre)
Emerald Downs
Monthly Book Club
3rd Wednesday.
Convenor Jane Gladwin
(65839732)
10.30-12.30
1.30-3.30
WAGTALES
Monthly Book Club
3rd Tuesday
(Jacqui’s home)
Ph: 6582 2719
2.00-4.00
STAYING AHEAD WITH
TECHNOLOGY
Harry—6582 4036
MORNING
(2nd Friday
(Rainforest Cafe Sea
Acres)
SUNDAY 12 April at 12
Noon
‘Let’s Do Lunch’
Singles Dining/Lunch
Group. *
(members’ homes)
*
* TEA/COFFEE & CAKE
Mah-Jong Classes
For New members Only
2.00 pm — 4.30 pm
Audrey’s Home
Call Audrey
(65824036)
Rivermark Café
Pat (6584 5561)
or Gayl
(0421 319 067)
MAGIC OF ART
IMPRESSIONISTS TO POST
IMPRESSIONISTS
Convenor: Jacqui Krawitz—6582
2719
Brian—6582 7674
(Emerald Downs
Community Centre)
(Port Macquarie Library)
Fee: $25.00.
MAH-JONG
2.00-5.00
6.30
Convenors: Chris
65820154) and Audrey
(65824036)
(Mac Adams Centre)
* WAG D
INERS
GROUP
(4th Tuesday
Venues TBA)
Convenor: TBA
Enquiries to Secretary
Robyn 65849455
(2nd Wednesday Venues
TBA)
Convenors Bridget Earle
(65833657)/Jacqui Krawitz
PORT MACQUARIE WATONGA U3A - 2014—15 COMMITTEE
President: Bob Morgan: 6584 9455
Vice President: Harry Bryant—6582 4036.
Secretary: Robyn Morgan— 6584 9455
Treasurer: Gayle Rovere. 0421 319 067
Publicity Officer: Lorraine Jose 6582 3453.
Course Coordinator: Anne Williams — 6584 7127.
Welfare Officer: Pat Hurdle: Tel: 6584 5561
______________________________________________________________________
PMWU3A Postal Address: PO Box 9461, Lighthouse Beach LPO, Port Macquarie 2444
Website: http://portwatonga.u3anet.org.au/
PORT MACQUARIE-WATONGA U3A IS A MEMBER OF U3A NETWORK
NSW
For further ‘Network’ information, including News and Quarterly
newsletter visit the website: http://www.nsw.u3anet.org.au/
GUESTS AND VISITORS may attend any group once without payment of
course fees, subject to
accommodation
being
available.
New
members are required to complete an ‘Application for Membership’
form.
Members may also attend courses on a casual basis, for which they are
not registered. The fee for this attendance is $5.00 per session.
DISCLAIMER: This newsletter is provided ‘As Is’ without warranty of any
kind. Each reader of the Port Macquarie-Watonga U3A Inc. Newsletter
assumes complete risk as to the accuracy and subsequent use of its
contents.
Payment of Subscription and Course Fees
Electronic Banking
Members may now use electronic banking to pay subscription and course fees
using the following account details:
Bank:
National Australia Bank
BSB:
Account Number:
082 798
82096 1368
Account Name:
Port Macquarie Watonga U3A
In the Message/Description/Reference/Information section please use the following
codes. Please separate each item with a comma (e.g. JF,AS,MJ) if you are paying
for more than one item.
Joining Fee
=
JF
Annual Subscription
=
AS
Magic of Art
=
AR
Astronomy
=
AY
Staying ahead of Technology
=
CO
Current Affairs Disc. Group
=
CA
Planet Earth
=
PE
Mah-Jong
=
MJ
Alternatively please send details of the transaction to the
Treasurer at:
[email protected].
Members who do not wish to use electronic banking should
continue to pay for in the usual way.