U3A Clarence is a cooperative learning community for retired and semi-retired people, run by volunteers on a non-profit basis. While there are no age limits, its courses attract the over 50s. It was founded in 1993 and now has about 350 members.
We have something for everyone
Get Moving!
Whether it be dancing or Tai Chi. Fluid movement can help reduce tension of the body and mind. It can also be a lot of fun too.
Painting Classes
Awaken your inner Picasso! Beginners and intermediate course on painting and sketching are available now.
Our Stories
Discover the writer within. Read and Listen to new contributions from members. Share thoughts and ideas with like minded individuals.
Science
Join us to learn more about celestial space, our bodies, mind and matter.
President’s Welcome Message
The University of the Third Age Clarence (U3AClarence) has been providing quality courses and activities for the residents of Clarence and beyond for 25 Years.
The original concept of U3A was to extend the intellectual learning life of older individuals. U3A Clarence does this and more with a varied program of lectures and other activities.
There are no defined age requirements but is usually most suitable for those 50 to 55 and older. Some of our members are over 80 and still enjoy interesting activities with like minded people in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.
Unlike universities for the young there are no exams and no previous knowledge of the subject matter is required. All are welcome regardless of educational level, past occupations, and backgrounds.
There no competitive components, except perhaps in Mah-jong and chess. We get together to exercise our minds and bodies at entirely our own pace, with co-operative and mutually supportive other members.
Our varied activities cover lectures and discussion groups on geography, science, history, art and issues of topical interest. For our physical wellbeing we have Tai Chi, circle dancing, yoga and line dancing. During the year we also organise social activities such as a trivia afternoon and visits to places of interest.
Rosny Library (LINC) is our meeting place which is well appointed, warm and convenient. We are run entirely by volunteer members which is why we can keep our annual subscription to $45 to cover essentials. Subscription and enrolment forms are available on other pages of this website.
Our current program is now available and is as varied as usual. I am sure there is something of interest for both our long term members and newcomers.
New members receive a warm and comfortable welcome. You may choose to simply attend the sessions you are interested in. But we hope you will join us for morning tea in Room 6 at 10.30 am.
I look forward to meeting you soon
Jocelyn Head
Honorary President U3A Clarence
President’s Message January 2019
Memory
I can clearly remember the day when, aged 4, I fell into a pond. I can remember the blue sky looking up, how my feet slipped on slimy leaves and I fell repeatedly in trying to get up. It is as though I were still there. Yet it is over 70 years ago and I have not thought about it for over 40 years until my sister recently asked about this often repeated family story from before she was born.
I have a friend who has a complete visual memory of the physical details of her classroom on her first day of school. I can only remember that on this long awaited day (when I knew I would be grown up) that the girl next to me was in tears and I could not understand why. I have no other memory of that day at all.
It is amazing that a collection of atoms form into brain neurons which in some way imprint and contain our memories. The actual process is not understood and when it is discovered it may increase our sense of wonder rather than diminish the mystery.
The brain which (in most cases) could be held inside two hands enables us to learn to dance and sing, remember complex musical arrangements and an enormous variety of combinations of all three. In addition we are able to contemplate the extremely small but still to lift our gaze to the vastness of space (which makes my head hurt). Please don’t talk about quantum mechanics!
“Memory is the mother of all wisdom” Aeschylus (525-455 BC)
One of the beauties of our memory is that it can fade. PTSD sufferers long for forgetfulness, to relieve them from the constant mental re-enactment of their trauma.
Forgetting also means we can learn the same thing over and over as though it was new. I just wish my forgetting did not include the inability to remember names which is more distressing to me than forgetting my keys!
To me all learning includes a remembering of old things which the new can refresh and enlarge.
Three quotes again from Aeschylus sum up the joy of learning for me “Even the old should learn”, “To learn is to be young forever.” and “Learning is ever in the freshness of its youth, even for the old”.
So bring your razor sharp or very foggy memory to U3A in Term1 2019. There is sure to be something to interest you in our new program.
Jocelyn
Regular Bulletin
Newsletter August 2018
In this newsletter, we have another exciting program to interest us in the third term of 2018. I am perpetually grateful to the tutors, who give their time to provide us with new and continuing information and activities. I find that when I have completed a course, I...
read more
U3A News from around the State
U3A State-wide meetings are held around every 6 months and with invitations to all current U3A groups to attend. The meetings are in Campbell Town, the last on March 1st, 2017 and attended by myself and Carol Rossendel representing Clarence.
read moreOur Photo Albums
20th Anniversary Celebrations
Revisit a great occasion.
15th Anniversary Celebrations
Were you there?
Some stories from our writers
The Nobel Peace Prize
MY nominee For The NOBEL PEACE PRIZE The person, whom within MY lifetime, has done more for Peace and the preservation of good Literature in my lounge room, is the inventor of the MUTE BUTTON. Eugene Polley of the Zenith Radio Corporation is credited with creating the...
Looking Back
Looking back from 20 years in the future You are only 5 minutes late, don't get so bothered about a little delay. I can remember when people had to line up for hours just to get on one of those big cramped, noisy aeroplanes in order to go from Hobart to Sydney. Then...
Where the Wind Comes From A storey for Fia A little girl named Fia sat watching the leaves being swirled in the air by a Dust Devil when her Grandfather came and sat beside her. "you look very thoughtful, what are you thinking about?", asked the old man. "Where does...
Animals in my Garden
Hello to the Animals in my Garden I am sitting in my small secluded back garden, the air around me is redolent with the perfume of roses, the trees and shrubs sway in a light breeze. I am watching the tiny silvereye birds joyfully playing in a terracotta bird-bath...
Borders of Sleep
I have come to the borders of sleep, Yet my eyes will not close. I am wondering why. Was it what I ate tonight? I’m wondering. Or the wine that I drank; Or perhaps the heat of the day Which has continued till now. I’m wondering. Why? Is it the warmth of the body Now...
Waste, ain’t it!
“Mum, Mum, wait till you see this!” The girl was hard to see in the darkness: a vague silhouette, slithering over piles of rotting rubbish, fruit, vegetables and other unsold and out-of-date foodstuff. Behind the shopping centre a yard was enclosed by a brick wall,...