Yarra Valley U3A
 
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Monday Talks

Monday Afternoon Talks: Organised by Kay Dermody (2.00pm)

To be held on the FOURTH Monday of every month in the Yarra Valley U3A Office venue, at the rear of 14 Ivanhoe Parade Ivanhoe. Access is from the lefthand side of the building ( Melways 31 F7). We encourage all members (and friends) to attend to support our speakers and to make this a successful program.

Programme for Semester 1

27 February

Janet Creed: "The Argus" (An outline of the paper's history; the experiences of an Argus photographer; the work of an Argus indexer)

26 March

Dr Ralph Newmark, Hon. Research Associate: Institute Of Latin American Studies Latrobe University: "The Secret History of Tango"

23 April

Mr Ian Penrose, Riverkeeper: "Yarra Riverkeepers Association": What They Are and What They Do"

28 May

Speaker from the Austin Hospital (to be announced):

Respecting Patient Choices Programme

25 June

Dr P Lowthian, Senior Research at Cabrini Hospital: Topic to be announced

Monday

Achievable Art and Craft: Diana Mc Cormack (1.30 every second Mon.)

Explore your creative side, with the opportunity to work on various projects, completing them each month. Participants are encouraged to share their skills and talents.

 

Foreign Films: Margaret Murphy (1.30)

Foreign films (subtitled) are shown on DVD or video in a home environment. As a winter activity, it starts on Monday 16th April and will be on the third Monday of each month.

The group is currently full.  To join a waiting list, call Margaret on 9435 3419.

 

Book Group 3 - Reading for Pleasure: Janet Creed (2 - 3.30)

We meet the FIRST Monday of each month. Books are chosen from a list suggested by members. In February we have a poetry session with everyone bringing copies of one or two poems. In mid-year we plan a play reading. Other titles include mainly novels and biographies. The full list will be available on Enrolment Day.

Anyone interested should ring Janet Creed. There might be a couple of vacancies in 2012.

 

Trivia Afternoon: Valerie Fletcher (2.00)

This semester we will run two sessions of our 'not too serious' Trivia on 2nd Monday in March (12th) and 2nd Monday in May (14th).


 

 

Travel to Unusual Places: Kangshung Face of Everest: Julie Marshall (2 - 3.30, March 5th)

Last year I gave a talk on our trip to Eastern Tibet travelling from Lhasa to Chengdu in China. This talk is on an earlier trip, when we travelled in the more western region of Tibet, going from Kathmandu to Nepal to Lhasa. The main purpose of this trip was to trek to the base camp of the Kangshung (East) face of Mt Everest. This face has sometimes been called the Hidden Face, as it has only been climbed twice due to the difficult and isolated terrain.

 

Travel talk – Iran:  Rosemary Sceats (2.00-3.30, April 2)

Rosemary will present an illustrated talk about her recent trip to Iran.

 

Monday Cinema at the Nova/Westgarth/Kino: Janet Creed (Times Vary)

This is an informal group that meets on the THIRD Monday of each month (January to December) at one of the above cinemas, which are all accessible by public transport. One person is assigned each month to choose the movie and venue. The list of those choosing is distributed after Enrolment Day.

 

Tuesday

 

Tai Chi - Gentle Exercise: Carolyn Wood (10 - 11.00)

This class will include Tai Chi 18 form, Lotus, Tai Chi for arthritis and Tai Chi for Diabetes. The latter two have been developed by Dr Paul Lamb from Sun Style Tai Chi. Comfortable dress and flat shoes are required.

(If this class is over subscribed, then a second session may be run at 11.15am.)

 

French Conversation 2: Marie-Claire Staub (10.00)

This is a participant-directed, French language discussion group, exploring such topics as current events, films, ecological issues, politics and so on. Sessions are in French, so if you are a native French speaker or have studied French and would like to keep up your skills, you will enjoy this group.

(The group will not meet during school holidays.)

 

Astronomy and Cosmology, Big Bang to Big Brain : Dr John O'Connor (10.00)

We use updated course notes and spectacular visuals to explore and discuss "Big History". We will look at our new cosmic perspective, us claiming a 13.7 billion year pedigree within the immensity of deep space time; parallel universes, origin and evolution of galaxies, star birth and star death, life on earth and probably elsewhere; origins of mankind; our brain and its output, the mind; Earth's sustainability - population, climate and limiting factors; and our local night sky.

 

Philosophy Study Group: Janice Kelly (10.00)

(Held in the Humanities 2 Building, La Trobe University. A map will be provided)

This is a study group engaged in philosophy ideas and concepts, in which members are encouraged to participate in class discussion.

Our text for 2012 is 'Epistemology: Classic Readings' edited by David E. Cooper. Epistemology, or the theory of knowledge, is one of the most central branches of philosophy. It asks questions like, "Do we know what we think we know?" and "What are the sources of knowledge?" This book contains twenty of the most important historical contributions to epistemology, from Pluto to Wittgenstein, including seminal writings from both Western and non-Western traditions of philosophy. An introduction by David Cooper is provided for each text.

(New members are welcome)


 

 

Book Group 1: Margaret Murphy (10.00)

As the group, which meets on the FOURTH Tuesday of each month is ongoing, members choose 10 books in November for the coming year. Each month one person agrees to lead the discussion and members provide their own books.

This group is currently full. Call Margaret on 9435 3419 to see if there is a casual vacancy.

 

Italian Conversation: Adriana Ficarazzi (1.30)

This course is designed for learners who have quite a good grounding in basic Italian grammar, to further develop the basic skills of language learning.

It is quite demanding and is not recommended for participants without formal background. Participants will continue to expand their knowledge of the spoken language, idiomatic usages and useful vocabulary.

Topics will be presented under the following broad language themes:  Italian cities, tourist attractions, shopping, eating out, public transport, leisure and pleasure etc. The language and culture units will be integrated.

(The group will not meet during school holidays.)

 

Dickens and Australia: Elisabeth Neales ( 2.00) One session only

Elisabeth Neales of the Dickens Fellowship, assisted by actors Margaret and John Leonard, will give an account of Dickens’ attitude to Australia as shown in his articles in 'Household Words', the references to Australia in the novels, and the experiences of his two sons, who lived in Australia for much of their lives.

 

Singing for Pleasure: Nancy Cornwallis (1.30)

The group is open to all, and it would be great to have more men! No auditions or experience necessary and you don't need to be able to read music. The only requirement is that you enjoy singing all sorts of music in a relaxed atmosphere. The aim is to sing for fun, and to do some performances when we are ready.

(There will be a small charge to cover photocopying.)

 

Wednesday

 

Beginners' Plus French:  Eddy Abraham (10 - 11.30)

The acquisition of French as a foreign language enables one to function in a French-speaking everyday environment. Emphasis is on spoken French, for those who have never learned French before. We will learn the skills of greeting people, introducing oneself and giving details, identifying students in the class, asking and reporting information, checking understanding, describing people, complimenting/expressing gratitude, discussing likes and dislikes, giving location, and so on.  Method used: Aural/Oral Approach.  A one-off fee of $5.00 covers photocopying for the year.

(Class not held in school holidays.)

 

British History 1699 – 1760 “ Bonnie Charlie's Gang awa’”: Donna Jaggs (10.00)

This course examines the political and cultural history of Britain from the 'Glorious Revolution' to the mid-eighteenth century.

(Not school holidays or Anzac Day)

 

French Conversation 1:  Bill Jaggs (10.15- 11.45)

The group will converse in French on a wide range of topics, using French news and videos as a trigger to develop skills and an understanding of the French language. This is useful preparation for travel to French speaking countries.

(Class not held in school holidays.)


 

 

The 'Disappearance' of the Aborigines: A question of genocide? :  Dr Tony Barta (10.00)

Session 1: The idea of genocide in Australia

As ideas of genocide are so influenced by the Holocaust, few Australians, including historians, have considered the word appropriate for our country. Over the past twenty years that has begun to change. We will look to the original definition of the word, considering whether the emphasis on 'intent' can be applied to the 'relations of genocide' that colonialism appears to have established.

Session 2: Victoria, A Case Study

What began as 'Australia Felix' quickly proved a vale of sorrow for the indigenous population of the Port Phillip colony. Within a short time the numbers of Aborigines fell by 80 percent. If officials in London, Sydney or Hobart knew of this 'vanishing', were they complicit in genocide?

Session 3: From Darwin to Hitler and back to Australia

It is over 150 years since Charles Darwin published The Origin Of the Species , a book which changed the world. His world began to change just before he visited Australia in 1836. His comments on the genocidal effect of colonies resonated at the time. Darwinian ideas were sadly influential in colonial thinking through to the Second World War. Are there connections between Australian and German history?

 

Music Appreciation : Noel Griffith (10.00)

Classical music will be discussed from the point of view of form, era of composition, key relationships, style, harmony and any other matters of interest. Major works such as symphonies and concertos are analysed and explained. Music is played on the piano by the tutor and/or listened to from CDs through hi-fi equipment. Other subjects include the history of western music, elementary theory, instruments of the orchestra, opera etc. Informal discussion is encouraged.

(This course may be joined at any time.)

 

Play Reading : Helen McKinnon (1- 4.00)

Do you enjoy drama? Perhaps you have been involved in amateur theatre, or

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