On Friday 24 July, U3A Box Hill members gathered at the RSL to farewell one of our most valued volunteers, Seng Poon. Twenty-four guests came along to celebrate Seng’s long service and to wish him well as he prepares to move to the other side of Melbourne to live closer to his family. UBH Vice-President Manfred Bartz gave a brief presentation on Seng’s time at UBH. Seng joined us in 2016 and took on the role of UMAS and membership coordinator from 2018, guiding UBH through the changeover from our old MYOB-based admin system to the Network’s UMAS platform. He […]

Read more...

Last Wednesday, U3A Box Hill members gathered for the annual volunteer tutors’ lunch and to farewell someone truly extraordinary. After 27 years of teaching needlework classes to seniors in our U3A Box Hill community, volunteer tutor Charmaine Goodman has stitched her final lesson with us. Twenty-seven years! Since 1999, Charmaine has welcomed countless members into her home studio – some confident in their skills, others confessing they “couldn’t sew” – and transformed them into accomplished needleworkers. Offering Personalised Learning for Every Senior Charmaine’s teaching approach perfectly embodies the U3A philosophy: learning for pleasure, at your own pace. She guided each […]

Read more...

What does dedication look like? At U3A Box Hill, it is a couple who splits their time between grey nomad adventures and giving back to their Melbourne community – both in front of the class and behind the scenes. Lee and Lester Wallin recently received U3A Box Hill’s Distinguished Service Certificate, recognising their exceptional contribution to our seniors’ learning community. The Spirit of Generosity Up front, the Wallins share their passions with fellow seniors. Lester brings music history to life, tutoring both Australian Folk Music and Music of the Rock ‘n Roll Era classes. Lee leads engaging Current Affairs discussions. […]

Read more...

We’ve quite a bit of news from our Christmas Gathering on Friday 28th, all to be variously released.Importantly though – the RAFFLE.Given 2025’s droughts & flooding rains the COM settled on Hay for Farmers as the destination for the sum we raised this year & as she closed the gathering President Valerie Bourke let people know that $331 was collected.Well done to everyone involved. Keep an eye out for pics of many of the winners later but to start we give you here – the first winner drawn, ticketing hands and our area MLA at work. The name of the […]

Read more...

U3A Box Hill opened up to the passing world at the Spring Festival at the Nunawading Council Office Precinct on 19th October. Our stand was positioned directly opposite the main stage — a lively spot that treated us to a full day of primary school performances, multicultural dance groups, and U3A Nunawading’s own band. Under the capable coordination of Claire Harris, we displayed a colourful selection of our programs and activities. President Valerie Bourke even joined in the fun, playing the ukulele to draw attention to our tent. Many curious visitors stopped by, collected brochures and newsletters, and asked the […]

Read more...

U3A has been on tour to the Ship Wreck Coast during the vacation . Sound & Light Show at Warrnambool, morning tea at a freezing Camperdown’ Happy Hour at Mod-City Motel, emus and walking track at Tower Hill State park, our bus and trailer, Flagstaff Hill village at Portland, The Portland tram tour, Seal bursting through the footpath at Warrnambool, visit to the State Park and indigenous protection area where we observed the remains of eel traps and round stone houses. The Twelve Apostles on a windy Sunday.

Read more...

U3A Box Hill recently hosted delegates from the Jiangxi Elderly Education Program at Jiangxi Open University in China. The September visit brought together two worlds of senior learning.

Read more...

Our Honorary Grandson Returns: Ethan’s Best Year (So Far). Ethan’s return to U3A Box Hill felt more like welcoming back family than attending a formal lecture. Valerie introduced him warmly as our “honorary grandson,” and from the outset he radiated the enthusiasm and humility that endeared him to us during his earlier lecture series The Brain and Its Mysteries. This time, rather than a structured class, he offered a heartfelt travelogue of his year at Oxford — a mix of academic milestones, cultural discoveries, friendships, and self-reflection. He began with first impressions: walking into Oxford’s historic square, seeing the Radcliffe […]

Read more...