Celebrating the milestones of U3A Box Hill.
Contents
2012 — 20th Anniversary #
While I had not expected to be occupying the President’s chair once again, it was a pleasure to do so for the recent 20th Anniversary celebrations of our U3A. It was an excellent day throughout, from the band playing outside to welcome guests, the enjoyable luncheon, the fine rendition from our talented choir, unveiling the wonderful commemorative quilt involving much work by our quilting class, to the kind words from our invited dignitaries. Even the weather was perfect!
All in all, the day was a tribute to the organising skills of our Past President, Alister MacLeod,and our Publicity Manager, Susan Webster, together with the many helpers on the day.
Our thanks to Clare Hopkins for being the stand-in photographer.
Colin Mayfield, President
2017 — 25th Anniversary #
On the last Friday in March (2017), ninety or so members of U3A Box Hill, including a number of foundation members, Lynn Akeroyd, Beth Exton and Helen Gilligan as well as all living past presidents, celebrated U3A Box Hills twenty-five years of serving Box Hill seniors. The 2017 AGM was followed by a celebratory luncheon at the Box Hill RSL. There was much praise for the Hillsmen Singers, led by member Roy Olliff, and for the general organisation of the day. Together with the COM, I would especially like to thank my team, Anna Strahan, Maria Quaresima, Lee Wallin, Jo Dawson and Prabhati Milton who made the event happen. Behind the scenes Helen Elliott and Chris Marks worked to ensure payments went through.
On the day, long-serving COM members Helen Elliott and Susan Webster were made Life Members. Out-going president, Bruce Bourke was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation and a thank you card signed by all present as a memento. Outgoing president of Network Victoria and Nunawading course co-ordinator, Elsie Mutton proved an appropriate and informative speaker. In her own life, she has been the embodiment of all that makes U3A work so well, the strong community-oriented volunteer ethic combined with a lifetime love of learning and caring for others.
All attending were given a copy of the Commemorative History, U3A Box Hill Bookmark and a car sticker. A thank you is recorded to Susan Webster and her team for her organisation of a special twenty-fifth Working Bee involving the creation of an indigenous planting to beautify the Strabane Hall surrounds.
Our current & past Presidents
Colin Mayfield, Greg McGregor, Susan Webster, Valerie Bourke (current), Bruce Bourke, Alister Macleod, Max McCready at the 25th Anniversary celebration.
2022 — 30th Anniversary #
Our thirty-first AGM (there were two AGMs back in 1992) at the Veneto club was attended by 55 members who passed our financial statements and endorsed the 2022/3 COM members. The minutes of this meeting will be presented to the 2023 AGM for ratification.
Following this AGM, a birthday atmosphere was created at the luncheon with our own Box Hill Singers leading the group of 71 members in a happy birthday song sung to the tune of the Hallelujah Chorus. Thank you to Roy Orliff who had the idea of training up a singing group for this event.
During the lunch, former presidents Max McCready and Bruce Bourke were presented with Life Membership Awards and Betty Shaw and Anna Strahan were presented with Distinguished Service Awards. Anjali Marcou from the Bendigo Bank presented a symbolic cheque to President Valerie Bourke to highlight the support given to U3A Box Hill during the past year, in particular the funding of the publication of The Writers’ Group Anthology and the updated History of U3A Box Hill. President of Network Victoria, and former president of U3A Box Hill, Susan Webster, spoke to the gathered members about the power of U3As to enrich the lives of seniors and raised a toast to U3A Box Hill.
Foundation member Lyn Akeroyd cut the birthday cake, and the raffle, which raised more than $400 for NSW flood victims, was drawn.
A clutch of presidents, Valerie Bourke, Alistair MacClean, Susan Webster, Max McCready, Bruce Bourke.
A big thankyou to all the COM members and catering team members who helped on the day: at the registration desk, running the raffle, setting up the acoustics, decorating the tables and the room and bringing in all those raffle prizes, collecting the payments and creating the attendance sheets. A large behind the scenes effort is required to run a successful event. Well done all.
