President
John retired from Medical practice as a Specialist Clinical Pathologist in September 2022 after a 40 year career in NSW and Tasmania, with retirement being delayed for 2-3 years because of his expertise in diagnosing and managing Covid-19. Plans for overseas travel and other activities post retirement were thwarted by the sudden and unexpected death of his wife Julie in February 2023. Since then he has been in a constant battle with the banks and superannuation funds in settling Julie’s estate (still unresolved after 6 months) and learning to live without his lifelong partner (including learning to cook). John enjoys the company of his Curly coated retriever Matilda who regards Bellerive beach as her second home and the support of friends and relatives both here and interstate. Retirement has also enabled John to spend more time with reading, gardening and attending concerts with which we are so well provided in Hobart. He maintains a keen interest in news and current affairs and was a former chairman of the ABC Advisory Committee (Tas) and member of the National ABC Advisory committee. Other interests include horse racing, sailing and fly fishing for the elusive Tassie trout.
Secretary
Sue retired from teaching in 2010 (mainly teaching Home Economic/Foods in grades 7 – 10) and she joined Clarence U3A in the August of that year. Sue has 2 adult children and 3 grandchildren. Her interests include long walks, cooking and reading.
She also works as a volunteer one day a week at her local Vinnies Shop in Sorell.
Sue and her husband, Geoff, run a small commercial apricot orchard on their land at Penna.
Treasurer
In 2016, after I retired from teaching grades eight to twelve in Brisbane, my husband and I moved to Tasmania. I was Born in Brisbane and have written mainly for my studies in Business Management and a graduate diploma and a masters in Education.
Later that year when I joined the writers’ group at U3A, I started to write to satisfy my needs for self-expression. Also, I have written a few stand-alone chapters of a sci fi story.
My hobbies are gardening, cooking new and inspiring meals, my dog, and my family. I am lucky to have my husband, two wonderful children one of whom lives in Tasmania and five grand-children.)
Social Convenor
Retired in 2018 after 53 Years in the Hairdressing Industry starting when just 15 years of age. Married to John , three children and two of the best Grandchildren one could ask for.
Beth loves gardening and Travel.
Pastoral Care
Mary has lived in Tasmania all her life-most of it on Hobart’s Eastern Shore.
She attended Lindisfarne Primary Schools, Rose Bay High and Hobart High School.
After training at Hobart Teacher’s College she taught for many years with the Education Department. During this time she taught mainly in the early childhood area, with some years working in special education.
U3A seemed a natural progression after returning 5 years ago.
Mary has 2 married sons and one grandson.
She enjoys reading, being with friends and participating in quiz teams.
Enrolments and Communication
Qualifying with a Bachelor of Education (Hons.) in 1982 I soon realised the role of teacher librarian was the one for me. I qualified and worked in that field for over twenty-five years and taught Primary school for a few. I still do some relief teaching.
I am a keen reader, mostly of history. I enjoy preparing topics and teaching at U3A, as well as participating in groups and learning from lectures. I have travelled in Asia, Europe and Canada. I would love to do more! My husband and I worked for a couple of years in Timor Leste, the U.K. and Alice Springs – wonderful experiences.
I enjoy singing and was part of Tasmanian Chorale for many years. I am singing with St David’s Cathedral Choir and help organise the Music Library there.
We have recently adopted a Border Collie. Combined with a demanding, but wonderful cat, home life is busy. My elderly mother requires quite a bit of time also.
My main role on the Committee is as the Newsletter Editor. Contributions members provide, be they photos, short stories or poems, bring our newsletters to life.
Programmer
My husband and I share our home with a large, ageing but still bouncy dog, and a small, ageing and demanding cat. Of our four daughters and one son only two of these live close to us in Tasmania, so our travelling and holidaying is now mostly restricted to visiting family. We have eight wonderful, interesting grandchildren, ranging in age from ‘almost finished University’ to ‘not yet started Kindergarten.’ I spent much of my childhood on a farm on Tasmania’s beautiful east coast and am never quite comfortable in the suburbs, so I enjoy living in a rural area, surrounded by wildlife.
I am another retired teacher, having spent the latter part of my career mostly teaching senior secondary students and specialising in History subjects and Legal Studies. Since retiring, I am enjoying having the time to read books of my choice rather than those I have felt the need to read in order to expand my knowledge of a particular subject. My bookshelves are therefore filled with fiction and the occasional biography, and I am at my happiest when I take another unread book from the pile beside my bed and delve into another story!
It was a natural step for me to join U3A as, following retirement, I was determined to keep on learning new things and acquiring new skills. I find I also enjoy preparing and delivering courses on topics I am interested in, hoping that U3A members will share my enjoyment too.)
General Member