📰 All News

Roll Into Term 3 with Bocce: Fun, Fitness & Friendship Await!

Looking to add a little movement, laughter, and social connection to your week? Then don’t miss the U3A Term 3 Bocce Class, starting Monday 20th July 2026. This six-week program is designed to get you moving, thinking, and connecting—all while having a great time! What to Expect This isn’t the “old-fashioned bocce” you might remember. The U3A Bocce Program, developed by the Veneto Club, is full of variety and movement, with new games and team activities each week. You’ll steadily build your bowling skills, improve hand-eye coordination, and enjoy gentle exercise in a supportive, inclusive environment. Whether you’re new to […]

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Walk, Connect, and Stay Active – Term 3 Walks

Looking for a fun way to stay active, enjoy the outdoors, and connect with like-minded people? The U3A Box Hill Walking Group offers friendly weekly walks through some of the area’s most scenic locations, including local parklands, creek-side trails, and the beautiful Yarra River surrounds. Designed for active seniors, these relaxed social walks provide the perfect opportunity to improve fitness, enjoy fresh air, and share good company along the way. Walk Details 📅 When: Every Wednesday at 10:00 AM🚶 Distance: Approximately 5 km⏱ Duration: Around 90 minutes📍 Where: A variety of walking tracks in and around the Box Hill area […]

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Aged Care Information Session

On Tuesday 12 May, the Current Affairs class welcomed U3A members to a special information session on the new Aged Care reforms introduced on 1 November 2025. Guest speaker Lucy Harrison, assisted by Nigel Gomez, guided U3A Box Hill members through the key changes, helping attendees better understand what the reforms mean in practice and how they may affect older Australians and their families. Lucy Harrison is from Harrison Lew & Associates Pty Ltd, an aged care financial planning business.

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AI: The Next Step in the Democratisation of Knowledge

When Elizabeth II came to the throne in 1952, communication was very different from today. Long-distance communication often depended on intermediaries. Telephone operators connected calls. Telegram clerks transmitted urgent messages. Accessing specialised information usually meant consulting a professional, visiting an office, or speaking to an expert. Ordinary people could benefit from these systems, but they often relied on trained specialists to bridge the gap. During the Queen’s reign, that changed dramatically. Her 1953 coronation was the first ever to be televised, bringing a major national event directly into people’s homes. Later came direct-dial telephones, personal computers, the internet, email, and […]

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U3A Box Hill’s 2026 AGM

Community, Commitment, and a Few Good Laughs. Strabane Hall was filled with warmth and camaraderie on Wednesday, 1 April, as 53 members gathered for U3A Box Hill’s 35th Annual General Meeting. It was an occasion that combined formal proceedings with genuine celebration of the people and programs that make our organisation thrive. President Valerie Bourke opened the meeting and guided proceedings with her customary clarity and good humour, supported by Treasurer Rose-Mary Cassin. We were also pleased to welcome the City of Whitehorse representatives Lisa Williams and Cr Kirsten Langford, Mayor of Whitehorse, acknowledging the ongoing support of our local council. […]

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Discover the Joy of Laughter Yoga: A Path to Better Health and Happiness

What if something as simple as laughter could transform your mood, improve your sleep, and boost your overall wellbeing? Welcome to the world of Laughter Yoga—a unique and uplifting practice that blends intentional laughter with deep yogic breathing to support both mind and body. What Is Laughter Yoga? Laughter Yoga is a gentle, group-based exercise that encourages participants to laugh—no jokes, comedy, or prior experience required. Surprisingly, your body doesn’t distinguish between real and “fake” laughter. Even simulated laughter triggers the release of feel-good hormones, helping to reduce stress, relax emotions, and elevate your mood. This innovative practice was founded […]

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Grand Voyage Italy

Wednesday 25th March at 11am, Elizabeth HORE will speak about travels in Italy. Especially Italian monumental cemeteries which are an enchanting mix of sculpture and history and intriguing places to visit, enhancing any tour through this beautiful country.  Come and join us and hear Elizabeth speak about the cemeteries of Rome, Milan, Florence, Venice, Bologna and Staglieno and their notable inhabitants.  Beloved, admired and visited by C9th century travellers and writers such as lord Byron and Dickens, these cemeteries are hidden gems. All images are Copyright 2014 – 2024 by GrandVoyageItaly.com and occur on the blog post at http://www.grandvoyageitaly.com/culture/archives/01-2018. Shared […]

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How did the British crown end up in Germany?

It’s a question that sounds like the setup to a riddle — but the answer involves royal intrigue, legal battles, a daring old woman, and jewels worth a king’s ransom. More on that shortly. This Wednesday the 18th at 11am, the Art and History class continues the wonderful BBC documentary Seven Ages of Britain, presented by David Dimbleby — a sweeping journey through 2,000 years of history told not through dates and battles, but through art and treasured objects. Episode two covers 1170 to 1400: from the murder of Thomas Becket in Canterbury Cathedral to the death of Richard II […]

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Lights, Cameras… Creativity!

Contributed by Jim Maunder This week the Creative Photography class tried their hand at portrait photography. Tutor Alan brought some suitable equipment, such as lights, a white backdrop and a reflector, as well as his daughter as a ‘model’ for the class. Different lighting and backgrounds were tried in the middle room, as well as in some outdoor locations around the U3A grounds and the nearby playground. Class members now have the difficult task of selecting six to eight shots each to bring to next week’s class for the education and entertainment of the rest of the group (the author […]

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🎬 The Movie: Enid — Wednesday 11th March

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Wednesday Program at Strabane Hall | 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM “She gave the world magical worlds — but her own was anything but simple.” This Wednesday we are screening the acclaimed 2009 BBC biographical film Enid — a revealing portrait of one of the world’s most beloved and prolific children’s authors, Enid Mary Blyton (1897–1968). If you grew up with the Famous Five, the Secret Seven, Noddy, the Faraway Tree, or Malory Towers — and most of us did — you will be fascinated, and perhaps surprised, by the woman behind the stories. About the Film Enid (BBC Four, […]

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