U3A - DURBAN
UNIVERSITY OF THE THIRD AGE
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here for the latest Course List, and here for our Newsletter. (If
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We
have had several successful tours of the Battlefields - here
is a write up and some pictures of the tour in March 2007. We are working on a
new site which will include at least two more accounts of these tours. The latest
to-date took place in April this year and was covered in Newsletter 34.
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 art appreciation, drawing
and painting, music appreciation, cooking, training to work on 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 game reserves 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 |
|
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-mailSubscriptions are extremely
modest:
Enrolment fee (one off)
R 30
Annual subscription R 40
This
entitles members to attend as many courses as they wish. For the current course
list return to the top of page and click on Courses on
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"