U3A - DURBAN
UNIVERSITY OF THE THIRD AGE
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We had a successful tour of the Battlefields recently - here are a write up and some pictures.
The U3A is not a university in the commonly understood sense. It is an association of people no longer in full-time employment who wish to enrich their lives with exposure to ideas and activities in association with like-minded men and women, in an informal and inexpensive way. Activities take place largely in private homes as “courses” which may take the form of didactic instruction, discussion groups, workshops, outings, etc. Topics have included e.g. Art appreciation, drawing and painting, Musical appreciation, Cooking, Computers, Comparative Religion, Astronomy, French and German Conversation, Current Affairs, Mathematics, Bird-watching, Photography, Yoga and Tai Chi, Croquet, Tennis, Bridge, Tours e.g. to the Battlefields, and many more. Courses are co-ordinated by leaders who may or may not be experts, but who are at least enthusiasts. Outside speakers may be invited, and are regularly asked to address the General Meetings held every two months.
Why is it called U3A? The concept originated in Toulouse, France, in 1972, in association with the local University, and was called “l’Universite du Troisieme Age”. In France the association with universities has been maintained, but elsewhere (and U3A’s are to be found world-wide) they operate quite independently. The French obviously age more slowly than the British, for their third age corresponds to Shakespeare’s sixth, the age of retirement. Do not imagine, therefore, that you will be associating with “the lover, sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad made to his mistress’ eyebrow”. No such luck! But you will find wonderful companionship, stimulation and entertainment - and an opportunity to share your own particular enthusiasms with others similarly inclined.
The Durban group was founded in October 2001.
Further information may be obtained from any member of the committee, elected at our 2008 AGM.
| Chairman | Margaret Knight | 031 208 0729 | |
| Vice-Chairman | Naureen Craig | 031 386 7177 | |
| Treasurer | Ruth Hughes | 031 209 6126 | |
| Minutes Secretary | Marie Millar | 072 122 5044 | |
| Membership Secretary | Joan Anthony | 082 565 2618 | |
| Publicity | Sally Stretch | 083 545 8686 | |
| Publicity Secretary | Maureen Howes | 031 2021071 | |
| Editor | Jill Stevens | 082 351 4664 | |
Click on the 
above to send an e-mail |
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Subscriptions are extremely modest:
Enrolment fee (one off) R 30
Annual subscription R 40
This entitles members to attend as many courses as they wish
If refreshments are provided a contribution of R 2 is requested
"You can't turn back the clock, but you can wind it up again"