Photos from U3A Box Hill events, 2010–2014.
Contents
December 2013 — Christmas Party
October 4, 2014 — Mim Egan’s 100th Birthday
October 2014 — Grampians U3A Conference
December 2014 — Christmas Party
December 2013 — Christmas Party #
The U3A Box Hill Christmas party was held at Strabane Hall on 29 November.
The President, Bruce Bourke opened proceedings by welcoming special guests, life members and all present. He presented a ‘Distinguished Service Award’ to Susan Webster for her contribution to U3A in many roles over the last ten years. Josh from the Bendigo Bank presented a cheque for $250 to U3A to facilitate our new EFTPOS facility. Our resident poet, Kevin Kirwan, then entertained the audience with a poetry recital. followed by the U3A Box Hill Choir conducted by Margaret Henderson.
Anna Burke, MP for Chisholm then made a short speech saying how she was pleased to assist U3A as U3A makes such a valued contribution to the life of the ‘wiser age’ community.
And then to lunch…
photos by Nino Xerri Anna Strahan Mary Quarrell and Susan Webster
2014 — Annual General Meeting #
U3A Box Hill’s Annual General Meeting was held on 19th March 2014.
The meeting was well attended and after a poetry reading by Kevin Kirwin, the following members were elected to the Committee of Management.
Two special resolutions were passed changing our incorporated name from Box Hill U3A Inc. to U3A Box Hill Inc., and accepting a new constitution in line with the State Government’s model Constitution for Incorporated Associations.
Bruce Bourke President Carol SainsberyVice President Marian Cantwell Secretary Chris Marks Treasurer Jo Dawson Program Co-ordinator Jennifer MaunderSystems Manager Margaret Walker Office Manager Lee Wallin Publicity Jim Maunder Facilities Manager Valerie Bourke Network Representative Susan Webster Planning & Accommodation Stanley Barker Newsletter, Website Helen Elliott Computer Class Coord. Mario Bonnici Committee Member
Most of the 2014 Committee
The well attended AGM
2014 — Spring Working Bee #
In spite of the good weather there were only 12 volunteers at the working bee. Between us we planted some new plants in the front garden, raked andswept the driveway and carpark, weeded the gardens around the carpark, washed the bird poo off the handrails, benches and front porch and washed down the windowsills. Inside we cleaned the kitchen drawers and cupboards,the fridge and microwave, gave the office a thorough clean and tidy, removed marks from the carpet, removed cobwebs, vacuumed the floor, sills dusted and cleaned window, cleaned whiteboards, and removed sticky tape residue from windows and other surfaces.
Afterwards we sat down to a pleasant pizza lunch. Many thanks to Pizza Capers at the Roundabout for opening early to make the very tasty pizzas and giving us a good deal.
Many thanks to Ann, Anna, Brian, Lee, Jen, Jenny, Jim, Jo, Judy, Margaret, Rosalie and Susan for helping to make our hall a nice place to visit.
And some photos from the April working bee…
2013 working bee
2012 working bee
October 4, 2014 — Mim Egan’s 100th Birthday #
Our oldest student, Mim Egan, turned 100 on October 4th, 2014. Born at the beginning of the Great War in the reign of King George V, she has seen a century of change and gained a 100 years of wisdom. She has seen 27 Prime Ministers come and go, ditto 21 Governor Generals. Her weekly stories at the Writing Group, of which she has been an active member for 18 years, shine a light on twentieth century social history.
Married at the beginning of WWII, she experienced the life of a young mother with a husband in service overseas. Her humorous accounts of journeys in an aging Riley motor car in post war Australia are in contrast to her poignant tales of the trials and tribulations of setting up family life in the rapidly growing suburbs with a returned serviceman husband. On the 21st of October, Bruce Bourke, president of U3A Box Hill, presented Mim with a certificate of achievement and a birthday cake. All present toasted Mim’s health wishing her many happy returns and future happiness.
Her book of stories ‘Never a Dull Moment’ was published in time for her to hold it in her hand and to read. Reviewed by the OnlineBookClub.org with 4/4 rating!
U3A Library will soon have a copy. Copies available from Mim’s daughter, Vivien Spencer (rogviv@bigpond.net.au) 0431 745 713 for $20.
We have recently heard the sad news that Mim Egan passed away just before Christmas 2021, aged 107!!
October 2014 — Grampians U3A Conference #
U3A members from all over Victoria gathered in the shadow of the Grampians this week (13 – 15 October 2014) for their annual conference. Box Hill was well represented with a contingent of thirteen in attendance. In a ground breaking move, this year’s conference was held outside the metropolitan area at Hall’s Gap. The rattle of trams was replaced by the haunting call of Currawongs, the warble of magpies, the high pitched twitter of rosellas, and the wild shrieks of cockatoos. A walk to the shops involved negotiating mobs of brazenly fearless free range kangaroos. Between rain showers delegates took part in a ‘welcome to country’ ceremony before learning about the “thin skinned tectonics” that had created the cuesta shape of the hardened sandstone ranges.
Wildflower rambles in search of elusive spider orchids among the tea tree heath and tranquil walks to the Silver Band falls gave way to serious climbs to the top of Mt Boronia and a view to die for over the township and surrounding ranges. Visits to the Brambuk Aboriginal Cultural Centre enlightened delegates to the traditions of the Djab Wurrung and Jardwadjali people’s and their stories of Gariwerd.
Delegates returned somewhat reluctantly to classes at Strabane refreshed from their time out in ‘Victoria’s wonderland’ and full of energy to renewed faith in the efficacy of the U3A movement to better the lives of seniors.
Regional and Network representative for Box Hill U3A and delegate at the recent Grampians U3A Gathering.
The Grampians Conference agenda
December 2014 — Christmas Party #
The U3A Box Hill Christmas party was held at Strabane Hall on 28 November.
The President, Bruce Bourke opened proceedings by welcoming special guests, life members and all present. The U3A Box Hill Choir conducted by Margaret Henderson presented a number of pieces finishing with an hilarious “Half a sixpence”..
Our resident calligrapher, Albert Ip, then entertained and educated the audience with a Chinese calligraphy demonstration.
Bruce Bourke presented a ‘Distinguished Service Award’ to Arthur Wells for his contribution to U3A Box Hill as a Committee member, the Treasurer who introduced our computerised membership and accounting system, and tutor. Bruce Bourke officiated while Councillor Robert Chong drew out the door prizes And then to lunch…
