A new year of learning with U3A

COMMITTEE members of the University of the Third Age Bacchus Marsh are inviting potential class participants to attend a meet and greet event on Tuesday 28 January.

To be held at the Town Hall Supper Room at 10am, Bacchus Marsh U3A committee member Helen Brown said the meeting is a chance to connect with course teachers and discover the timetable’s 17 activities on offer for 2025.

“Every day there is something on,” she said. “U3A is very different from other organisations offering something every day, whereas other groups for retired or semi-retired people might do something weekly or monthly.

“As it’s the start of the year, we want new members, so this is why we do the meet and greet.

“Our team leaders will stand up and give a brief talk about their activity and plans for the year. We have a morning tea and people can pay membership fees.

“Because of COVID, we accumulated funds. For this year, we’ve reduced our fee to $20 so we can give members something back.”

U3A is a worldwide movement which was founded in France to engage professional people who were retired but didn’t want to give up their skills.

“They were able to continue their skills and share them with people who probably in their younger days weren’t able to do those things, maybe working or child raising,” Ms Brown said.

Bacchus Marsh U3A has roughly 132 members with membership due when the school year starts. Retired or semi-retired people are generally involved, many of them former school teachers.

“All courses are well supported,” Ms Brown said.

“Painting for Fun has grown from six or seven people at the start of the year to 13. It’s growing all the time

“Beginners French, and intermediate, have grown heaps as well.”

Visit u3abacchus.org.au for more information.