…. Being Out and About

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Autumn Festival/Afternoon Tea
A fun day on Sydney Harbour
Manly Art Gallery and Coffee
International Women’s Day
Manly to Shelley Beach Walk and Talk
Jamieson Park Picnic
A Sensational Sausage Sizzle
Scotland Island Ferry Trip plus Lunch
Cabramatta – 9 November
Day trip to Woollahra Art Gallery – 20 October
Spring Festival – 10 October
Nan Tien Buddhist Temple – 30 August
Celtic Connections Concert
Day trip to Bankstown
International Nurses Day
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Autumn Festival/Afternoon Tea

70 members joined us on Tuesday 7 May and enjoyed the fabulous array of food supplied by Annie and her team.
The ukulele group entertained us with some fine music which started the feet tapping and of course it was hard to resist joining in with some dancing.
Everyone left with full stomachs having had a great afternoon.
Thanks to everyone who made this event happen.

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A fun day on Sydney Harbour

A pleasant morning was spent travelling by bus and ferry to our final destination, Manly.
We met at Neutral Bay Junction and took a bus to the Thelma and Louise Cafe at Neutral Bay Wharf, which afforded spectacular water views as we took time to enjoy morning tea and a chat.
We were blessed with a perfect Sydney spring day and, as can be seen from the photos, happy smiling faces.
Meg wishes to thank those members who supported this trip.

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Manly Art Gallery and Coffee

Another outing organised by Meg Watson, with our thanks. The group met on Friday 15 March at the Manly Art Gallery to see the Express Yourself 24 exhibition which they all enjoyed. This was followed by coffee (and no doubt a cake or two!!) at the Manly Club before everyone headed in different directions to find their way home.
Thank you to Ian Thompson for sharing these photos – the exhibition looks amazing.

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International Women’s Day

A number of members met by the edge of Narrabeen Lagoon to celebrate this special day on Friday 15 March.
Thank you to Meg Watson for suggesting and organising this gathering; also for sharing this photo.

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Manly to Shelley Beach Walk and Talk

On our walk from Manly to Shelley Beach on 9 February, we were privileged to be given a talk by Lainey de Jager, member of the Bold and Beautiful morning swimmers and keen underwater photographer.
Our u3a group gained insight into a swimming organisation which is the largest ocean swim in the world. Each morning 200 swimmers set off to ocean swim Manly to Shelley Beach and return – 1.6kms (800 metres each way), 365 days per year.
As well, information was gained about Cabbage Tree Bay Marine Park and stories of members of the Bold and Beautiful swimming with whales and the amazing creatures that call the bay their home. Cabbage Tree Bay Marine Park provides educational and research opportunities, recreational eco-tourism activities and volunteering opportunities so members can help protect the reserve.
It was a wonderfully informative morning learning about our local area. A big thank you to Meg for arranging this special outing and for sharing hers and some of Lainey’s photos here.

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Jamieson Park Picnic

Last year it was raining …. this year we thought it would be too hot with 35C forecast, but it didn’t get quite that hot
and we were blessed with a breeze off the lake.
Lots of chat and sharing of goodies to eat, what more could you ask for?

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A Sensational Sausage Sizzle

This year’s Sausage Sizzle on Wednesday 17 January, led by David Tuckerman, could have been washed out!
However, because of the prospect of much more rain, it was transferred at the last minute to North Curl Curl Community Centre. Thank you Runa for organising this with the Council.
The rain held off and, as you can see, a great time was had by everyone.
Big thanks to David, Leigh Haines and Chris Bowles for their organisation and expertise with the BBQ.
Thank you to Laurie Wilson and Ian Thompson for sending these photos.

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Scotland Island Ferry Trip plus Lunch

The first outing of the year was a great success with 47 members keen to hit the water for the annual ferry ride around Scotland Island followed by a delicious lunch at The Waterfront at Church Point. Blessed with a coolish day we didn’t escape a shower of rain but as you can see from the photos everyone had a good time.
Special thanks to Meg Watson for her great organisation, not only to arrange Branko, the commentator, but also with the ferry company and the restaurant, making sure that everyone was catered for. Thanks also to Ian Thompson and John Watt for the photos taken on the ferry.
Members’ punctuality and friendliness were noted and Meg would like to pass on her thanks to all who attended. Just by being punctual makes a leader’s job so much easier!

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Cabramatta – 9 November

The day trip to Cabramatta was a delight and an eye opener for those who had never ventured to that part of Sydney before. An hour on the train from Wynyard we realised the enormity of the city sprawl and passed lots of leafy suburbs with names that we had only heard on the TV before. On arrival at Cabramatta we had time to explore the shops – everything from unusual fruit and veg to materials to pastries (particularly custard tarts) to any type of ear piercing you could imagine to exotic jewellery creations … and so much more (not a Coles or Woolies in sight!)
Meg found us a comfortable air conditioned restaurant for lunch – a very good choice. Nearly everyone (14 of us) ordered something different and we all thoroughly enjoyed it. As we headed back to the station for the trip home we noticed how much warmer and humid it was and missed the sea breezes we’re so used to at home.
A big thank you to Meg Watson (and to Suzanne Atteridge for being 2 I/C) for arranging the day and taking the time to explore the train timetable and to get us there and back safely with no mishaps. Many of us have said how tired we were when we arrived home – the sign of a very good day out!

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Woollahra Art Gallery – 20 October

A wonderfully enlightening visit to Woollahra to see an exhibition at Woollahra Art Gallery at Redleaf. The Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize is Australia’s pre-eminent award for small sculpture and is the first national acquisitive prize for an original sculpture of up to 80cm in any dimension.
15 members joined Janelle Laidlaw for the trip across ‘The Bridge’ to the Eastern Suburbs and many positive comments have been received, not only for the exhibition but also for experiencing a different part of Sydney. Both Woollahra and the Gallery were worth a visit and a big thank you is extended to Janelle for arranging the day; also thanks to Meg Watson for her help with the arrangements.
More thanks to Janelle for these photos.

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Spring Festival – 10 October

Our first Spring Festival event proved to be a great hit!
We were blessed with perfect weather and, lucky for us, the promised showers didn’t eventuate.
The ukulele group confirmed that we still have a spring in our step with many members dancing along to the catchy tunes. A more gentle pace followed with guitarist Ray playing and singing while we indulged in delicious food, wine and lots of chat.
President Kerrie celebrated her birthday, made complete with a special poem penned for the occasion by Olivia Kesby.
Two prizes were given out for best outfits, with John Bridle and Helen Rozenkranz being the lucky recipients.
Many thanks to the committee and helpers who were on the venue doorstep at 9am to help set up and also clear away – your help was invaluable.

We hope you enjoy this selection of photos, from Laurie Wilson, Pamela Egan and Brenda Fuller

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Nan Tien Buddhist Temple

On 30 August 35 members and friends set off on a day trip to Nan Tien Temple in Wollongong. First stop was for a morning tea break at Sublime Point, which looks out over a well and truly sublime view of Wollongong and its’ suburbs!
After our break we headed down to Nan Tien Temple where we were welcomed by our tour guide Paul who met us off the bus and took us through the maze of halls to an open plaza where we commenced a lesson in Tai Chi. After the class we entered the main temple to have a good look around and hear Paul explain more about the Buddhist faith. There were a number of Buddhist followers within the temple giving prayers to their ancestors who were interred there.
Following our tour of the large temple we then settled down to a vegetarian lunch before having time to look in the gift shop and then on to the Pagoda which Paul again was able to explain the significance of.
After this it was going home time along Lawrence Hargrave Drive and the Sea Cliff Bridge. We were so fortunate that we had perfect weather as a storm was gathering to the south and seemed to follow us up the highway to Sydney. We arrived home just as the rain settled in. A very pleasant outing was had by all, looking forward to more.
Thank you, Katy O’Brien, for the article and for arranging the tour along with Jill Porteous.

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Celtic Connections Concert

Celtic Connections is a group of eight amateur musicians/singers who came together via the u3a Rock Orchestra or u3a Unpluggers Guitar Group. None born in Celtic country but Celtic DNA music flows through them all. They gave their first NB u3a concert on Wednesday 23 August.
Leader Graham Spindler and friends did a marvellous job introducing traditional Celtic songs and music from Ireland to our u3a community. The audience was asked to sing along for the chorus and most did. It was a good atmosphere. Most of the musicians played multiple instruments, vocals were very good with fine harmonies.
A very talented group of musicians!
Many thanks to Runa Schmidt-Muller for the review and to Laurie Wilson for the photos.

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Day trip to Bankstownc

Day trip to Bankstown

A marvellous day visiting Bankstown on 18 August!
Our leader, Sue Atteridge, had planned well with many trips to ‘test the route’ prior to the day.
It started with the light rail to Jubilee Park where we had coffee at the old tramsheds …. then on to Dulwich Hill for the cross over to a regular train to reach our destination.
A walk through the shopping area with lots of ethnic food and goods before a stop at the Art Gallery gave us an appetite for lunch. We chose the busiest Vietnamese restaurant and weren’t disappointed with our food choices. The spice bazaar was next on the agenda before we caught the fast train back to the city and our journey home.
A big thank you to Sue for her leadership and to Meg Watson as her back-up.

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International Nurses Day Picnic

As promised by the weatherman, 12 May brought a bright warm sunny day and an enthusiastic group gathered
at Jamieson Park to celebrate this special day and share stories of times gone by.
A good time was had by all!
Special thanks to Meg Watson for organising the get together and to Ian Thompson for taking these photos.

The top photo features five of our former nurses –
L-R: Sue Atteridge, Pat Keenlyside, Meg Watson, Virginia Lawrence, Olivia Kesby

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