U3A president Irene Telford and secretary Jo Gooden.
Photo by
Billie Davern
Seymour’s University of the Third Age is preparing to celebrate its 20th year of inspiring lifelong learning and fostering connection within the community.
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U3A is all about the continuation of education post-retirement.
“The purpose of it, really, is the need to continue to socialise and use your brain in older age,” U3A Seymour and District secretary Jo Gooden said.
“Just because you’ve finished working doesn’t mean you’ve finished learning.”
This year, U3A will be offering 18 different volunteer-run programs to the Seymour community.
From book buffet to meditation and from garden matters to German, U3A’s courses offer a diverse range of learning that can be easily accessed by anyone, regardless of their educational history.
Retirement, be that fully or semi, and being 50 years or older are the only qualifications required for individuals to sign up for one of U3A’s courses.
U3A president Irene Telford has herself adopted some of the key values of U3A and sets out to promote them through her presidency.
“I value lifelong learning, connection with people and contribution,” Ms Telford said.
Original U3A president Anne Thompson is planning U3A’s 20th anniversary celebrations with Carol Smith and Caroline Braun.
Photo by
Billie Davern
U3A will celebrate its 20th anniversary at an event for members that will honour the two decades of commitment the organisation has made to contributing to the community.
Anne Thompson, the first president of U3A, has witnessed first-hand the development of the courses and connections that have emerged from U3A.
“This celebration is a number of things,” Ms Thompson said.
“One, to say ‘good on us for getting to 20’, it’s also a way of capturing our history, and the third thing is to say to the community, ‘look, we’re here’.”
According to Ms Thompson, U3A in Seymour began from a conversation between herself and co-founding member Lesley Dalziel.
From this conversation, U3A has flourished into an organisation committed to providing access to further education for people of all walks of life.
Ms Thompson reflected fondly on the past 20 years.
“I think it’s been wonderful because you realise that you’ve not only opened doors to ideas, but you’ve opened doors to relationships,” she said.
Membership of U3A is just $40 a year for an individual and $60 a year for a couple.
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