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Albury-Wodonga U3A is located atThe Albury-Wodonga Community College

63 High Street Wodonga VIC 3690PO Box 129 Wodonga VIC 3689

College Reception (02) 6043 8200U3A Mobile 0499 895 117

alburywodongau3a.com > Contact Us

April Newsletter 2018Editors : Edward Voogt & Tony Keys | Publication Date : 25th March 2018

Albury-Wodonga U3A 2018-19 Committee MembersEdward Voogt (President & Member Services Director) • Dianne Fontana (Secretary)

Keith Martin (Treasurer) • Pat Madin (Programme Director) • Peter Massey (Systems Director)Meryl Allworth (Programme) • Helen Casey • John McLennan • Sussan Carter • Tony Keys (Newsletter)

2018 Semester I

Mid-Semester Break Begins 29th March

Ends April 16th§

Next Committee MeetingFriday 6th April

§May Coffee Morning

Friday 11th May 10:30 a.m.Room 9

Topic: TBA

U3A Albury-WodongaAGM

9th March 2018

  CEO Wodonga Community College - Rodney Wangman

Rod Wangman was guest speaker at the U3A Annual General Meeting, 2018It was a unique pleasure to have him attend as his very busy schedule means he is frequently out of town.

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government control, our rules changed and much committee time spent on paperwork.Rod said U3A does not contribute to the margins of the College organisation and we are not expected to do so.He only expects us to make a fair financial contribution to some of the direct costs the College faces. eg. cleaning, photo copying, tea/coffee….

2. Set fees at the end of the year rather than at the start of the year.H a v e a s y s t e m o f p a y m e n t t h a t satisfactorily covers our costs. He suggests $75.00 annually.We enjoy a good quality facility.

Some members will remember the “terrible old days”: outside toi lets, no air-conditioning, heat banks in rooms that had to be turned on a day early to heat up the room, second hand orange carpet from the Albury Commercial Club, donated, odd coloured chairs….A user pay system leaves our U3A Committee able to run U3A rather than be concerned with finding extra $$$ to cover costs.Fundraising was necessary in the early days but not now. Rod strongly advises against U3A doing fundraising, “The tasks sit on a few people to do a lot and they wear themselves out.”

As CEO of the College, Rod really admires our U3A [and Creative Learners] groups – largely volunteer organizations of teams of people, who manage their personal lives as well.He advocates the great merit of teams working best rather than individuals. Our well organised AGM was noted as a great example. Frequently as he walks past the classrooms he marvels at the highlights – “learning and co-existing as humans”. As well, he is always noting the low lights and will become involved if a problem arises.With sincere congratulations to the out going, and incoming committees, Rod was keen to encourage the Committee to nurture those U3A members who have extra attributes. Enthusiasm should not go unnoticed.Our Wodonga Communi ty Col lege organisation is very strong which means U3A has strong College support.

*The College is getting quite large, purposefully so. The College now extends to Mildura, Shepparton, Benalla, Wangaratta, Melbourne, Bacchus Marsh and Wagga Wagga. Some of those locations have actual sites which our College either leases or owns.Rod Wangman has been at the College since 1990. U3A was created by what was originally the Continuing Education Centre [CEC].Rod sees the College’s focus as the “ intent of learning as a lifelong experience”.

*Rod’s suggested directions for the future development of our U3A:1. Avoid applying for government grants/funding.By accepting these funds, within a very s h o r t t i m e U 3 A w o u l d b e u n d e r

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Rod encourages members to please alert Sharon if extra cleaning training is needed.

*How does U3A bring value to the Wodonga Community College?U3A occupies 40% of our College’s available space.U3A has a $21,000 turnover in a $15 million operation. U3A is small!Rod said U3A doesn’t really contribute much financially, but there is a huge trade off from U3A members to the College.He said, “You bring a level of happiness, comfort and stability as active, ageing learners”.The vast majority of our College’s young students are vulnerable, educationally at risk, academically poor, and from low socio-economic backgrounds.Nothing in their living memory has been positive about education.“You at U3A are a breath of fresh air to them.”At the start of the year the students struggle to give eye contact. At the end of the year their self esteem has improved.U3A students are a presence they don’t regularly see, that is, people enjoying education!

*Our Ceo, Rodney Wangman, encourages U3A members:“Be happy lifelong learners, because you penetrate my organisation!! “ Report written by Helen Milbourne

Rather than fundraise to sustain covering our costs, fundraise for a charity.Rod enthusiastically suggested great merit in having Open, or Welcome Day events; perhaps 2 a year. The entire local community (including those from other countries) are invited providing a wonderful social experience for new, aspiring members to meet with enrolled members. “Brilliant!!” Should be open to U3A and Creative Learners together. College car parking.Rod acknowledged the College carpark is a problem!Classes have peak times and a possible solution would be to spread classes more evenly over the week. [Note: coordinators determine class times]The College leases 26 car parks behind the rug shop. Staff are asked to park there to free up the College space.Idea: Rod encourages members to park in the shaded Kmart/Coles underground, 3 hour car park. Some members are already doing this.It is crucial everyone goes in the carpark by the ENTRY and leaves by the EXIT StaffCongratulations!!Administration is hard working and always strives to please. Rod encourages members to please continue to be patient in supporting administration staff especially at enrolment times.Our cleaner, Sharon, is now helped by adults with disabil it ies from Aware Industries. Rod is spending $800,000 to go towards Aware Industries. Some of those funds go to help Sharon’s cleaning, and some funds go to the bakery which produces food for the College’s child care venues.

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hoping to start improving soon. As a result of being in Rostrum Bruce is involved in adjudicating debates and speaking competitions for schools and Rotary (of which he is also a member).Bruce had a predominantly technical education, all of it done part-time, and has always regretted not having studied the humanities. That is why he finds U3A attractive. Bruce runs the Sustainability group and attends Philosophy and International Affairs. In his spare time Bruce is involved with WATCH (Wodonga Albury Towards Climate Health) and SAAW (Stop Adani Albury Wodonga). The reader may notice a tendency towards consistency, so Bruce is likely to stay in U3A as he moves through middle age. Speaking of consistency, Bruce is still married to Joy.

New Committee for 2018 - 2019

The AGM saw the election of a new committee who were much encouraged by Rod's words. Please see the banner headline for their names.

The Sustainability Class

A personal profile of Bruce Key, the coordinator.About 60 years ago Bruce moved from Melbourne to Tallangatta to become an articled pupil studying land surveying. After qualifying he worked all over Victoria but always had an affinity for the north-east. In 1964, Bruce married his first wife Joy and they lived at Myrtleford for a couple of years before moving back to Melbourne. Eventually a job with the n e w l y f o r m e d A l b u r y W o d o n g a Development Corporation came up and Bruce and his two children moved to Wodonga in 1975.The family joined the Yacht Club and sailed at Lake Hume almost every Sunday. Being observant Bruce noticed after about 15 years that it is rarely windy in Albury-Wodonga, so he and Joy took up bushwalking. Bruce is still walking (when he is allowed out). They have hiked in about a dozen countries and travelled to many others. Bruce has also worked in Ethiopia and The Philippines.For about 30 years Bruce was in the Army Reserve which helped to prevent any attacks on Australia during that period.As a person lacking confidence, Bruce joined the Rostrum Club more than forty years ago to learn public speaking and chairmanship. He is still a member and is

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A Participant's view - GraceI h a v e b e e n h e a r i n g a b o u t t h e sustainability group for years and now that I am attending it is as good as I heard. I like the class format of up-to-date reliable information, taking turns to read and discuss it. Our convenor, Bruce Key, finds articles and videos for the class and members are free to contribute articles they have found.  My strong interest is climate change and it is good to be with others who also take it seriously. I like the fact that we include social and economic areas of sustainability. We all contribute our own life experience and knowledge. It is not a direct action group but there have been recent opportunities promoted in the class for that.Thanks for all you do in U3A.

A Participant's view - JohnThis class addresses some of the most pressing and important issues facing the world in the 21st century, including climate change, pollution, renewable energy and storage, food production for an ever growing population as well as a wide variety of similar issues. It is led very ably by Bruce Key, who presents interesting and thought provoking videos and papers each week, usually leading to animated and informed discussion amongst the group. Sometimes the presentation or the subsequent discussion takes a completely unexpected turn only vaguely related to sustainability such as the recent examination of the ways free speech is being restricted in this country and elsewhere.Occasionally field trips are organised to visit sites of interest or to hear a guest speaker. Last year we travelled to Falls Creek and later this year a visit to an

e n v i r o n me n ta l l y f r i e n d l y h o u s i n g development in Wodonga is being planned.When available, guest speakers are invited to our sessions and these have included representatives of RAW (Renewable Albury Wodonga) and the Yackandandah solar energy initiatives.It is a friendly class where dissenting views are accepted and debated amicably. As well as Bruce’s deep and wide-ranging knowledge of the subjects, many of the class members with differing backgrounds a n d e x p e r i e n c e , a r e a l s o v e r y knowledgeable and contribute helpfully.

*This class runs on Tuesdays from 10:00am to 12:00pm

Laughter is the Best Medicine

TESCOS' HORSE In the UK, some supermarkets have admitted that there is horse meat in their home cooked burgers.

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Even places like Burger King have had to admit that there are “small amounts” of horse meat in their burgers. Tesco is a big supermarket chain in the UK. Within hours of the news that Tesco's 'all beef hamburgers'contained 30% horse meat, these quips hit the Internet …

• “I'm so hungry, I could eat a horse.... I guess Tesco just listened!

• Anyone want a burger from Tesco? Yay or neigh?

• Not entirely sure how Tesco are going to get over this hurdle.

• Waitress in Tesco asked if I wanted anything on my Burger. So I had £5 each way!

• Had some burgers from Tesco for my tea last night ... I still have a bit between my teeth.

• A woman has been taken into hospital after eating horse meat burgers from Tesco. Her condition is said to be stable.

• Tesco are now test ing al l their vegetarian burgers for traces of unicorn

• "I've just checked the Tesco burgers in my freezer ... AND THEY'RE OFF!" ( I love this one ).

• Tesco now forced to deny presence of zebra in burgers, as shoppers confuse barcodes for serving suggestions.

• Said to the missus, These Tesco burgers give me the trots....

• "To beef or not to beef, that is equestrian".....

• A cow walks into a bar. Barman says, "Why the long face?" Cow says "Illegal ingredients, coming over here stealing our jobs!"

• I hear the smaller version of those

Tesco burgers make g rea t horse d'oeuvres.

•• These Tesco burger jokes are going on a

bit....Talk about flogging a dead horse. • At first I thought, “Oh great, I've been

saddled with another email to forward, but something spurred me on.”

• Last night the wife made meat-loaf, so I had dinner with two nags.

• Since they're selling the meat wrapped in plastic, is that technically a “Trojan Horse?”

• Instead of choosing “rare, medium or well done, it’s now Win, Place or Show”

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Stimulation for the more mature body

Sensory systems: Balance -- Muscles/Ligaments -- Touch

Located in the inner ear, the Vestibular [balance] is a sensory system which needs movement to assist balance and spatial orientation. The brain connects to all the body via the Vestibular. The Vestibular is developed 6-8 weeks after conception.

In childhood we move [ jump, roll, swing, spin, crawl, upside-down.....etc]

As we age we move less!

Neural pathways to and from the brain pass through the Vestibular. A healthy Vestibular, relying on movement, is crucial for our health overall. It consists of a cluster of tiny, active muscles covered by many cilia and 3 semicircular canals + 2 sacs filled with fluid. Body movement encourages the tiny muscles to work, the cilia to “swish”, and the fluid to “slosh”.RESULT: An active Vestibular ensures the brain interprets all body messages accurately and consequently our body is fitter.

Also developing before birth is the sense of Tactility [touch] and the sense of Proprioception [muscle/ligament strength of effort].

These 3 senses are developed in utero, and are strongly established at birth. They rely on each other for our good health during our entire life time.

The Vestibular affects our everyday skills:* gravitational security* movement and balance* muscle tone* bi-lateral co-ordination [ both sides of the body]* auditory language processing* visual spatial processing* motor planning [intentional movement]* emotional security.The ageing body can keep the Vestibular healthy if we do simple everyday activities.

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Remember to add some Tactility and Proprioception activities at a similar time if possible to strongly stimulate the body’s sensory fitness.

Vestibular [Balance] Proprioception [Muscles/Ligaments]

* rocking chair * carry weighted loads [shopping, wood]* gently turn in a swivel chair * push & pull [wheelbarrow, vaccuum]* up down steps * hang by arms from a bar* sit on large therapy ball [ TV, desk] * crawl on hands and knees* gently move on sml. trampette * lots of bear hugs* swing [verandah chair, swing] * cutting with scissors, pruning plants* stand and slowly spin round * ball - catch, bounce throw, and sports* lie down and gently roll * lift a child* walking , walk heel to toe * massage joints, open/close [flex/extend]* balance on one foot * housework, gardening in general* dancing

Tactility [Touch]

[Experience a variety of textures/sensations – soft, hard, smooth, coarse, etc]

* squeeze foam, soft ball* skin brushing, hair brushing* massage* pat a pet* walk barefoot [sand, grass, water......]* warm/cold shower, swim.* walk in rain, wind…..

*Written by U3A member, Helen Milbourne[ Retired Albury/Wodonga GymbaROO Franchisee/Instructor, & Early Childhood Teacher]Interesting references: The Well Balanced Child ……………….by Sally Goddard BlytheThe Out of Sync Child…………………...by Carol Stock Kranowitz

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