Hot off the press for 2023! You can download a preview of next year’s (2023) courses Handbook.
Go to the Courses menu and click on the download link.
Please note: Enrolments will commence at 10:00am on 6th December, 2022.
Are you 50+ and retired or semi-retired?
Want to keep your brain and body active?
Want to develop new social networks?
Want to share your views on current affairs with others?
Membership is open to anyone who is 50+ and retired or no longer working full time, and interested in participating in any of our social, creative, educational, physical and leisure activities. Together we explore ideas and develop new interests and skills in a sociable and supportive environment.
Courses
For details about our current offerings and timetable, please feel free to explore our Courses. You can view our courses without having to join.
If you have an idea for another course, or wish to share your expertise or hobby by presenting one, our Course Coordinator would love to hear from you!
Memberships
Prospective members Find out how to join U3A Emerald and enrol in courses via our Membership page.
Existing members Member login: enrol in a course or update your details.
Our tutors and course leaders, who are all volunteers, offer a wide-ranging program so there is sure to be something that attracts your interest. Our classes generally run from the beginning of February through to the end of November each year. One low annual membership fee of $40 entitles you to participate in as many of these courses as your time and interests allow.
Daily Events
Note: You must enrol in a course before attending.
No courses or activities on today. However, you may be interested in these upcoming events...
Upcoming Events
23EXE001: Bushwalking (Mondays)
Mon 27th Mar, starting at: 09:00 AM
Leader: Dot Radings, Venue: Various
The bushwalking group will meet in various starting locations, as advised by the tutor, every Monday at 9.00. Walks will generally be somewhere in the areas of Lysterfield, Mt Dandenong and Gembrook, Berwick, and Pakenham. Expect to walk about 6-8 km each week. Each walk takes from 90 to 120 minutes. There will be some rough and steep tracks. Reasonable fitness required. The leader will carry a basic first aid kit. There are no walks in school holidays, days of Total Fire Ban and very rainy days.
23DIS001: Australian and World History
Mon 27th Mar, starting at: 10:30 AM
Leader: Dick Bartley, Venue: Hills Hub T 1 2
This course explores topics in Australian, indigenous and World history. The topics will be developed in areas derived by the members of the class. Instead of a chronological treatment of topics, the intention is to study aspects of History that participants identify. The proposed content includes:
Term 1: Indigneous History
Terms 2, 3 and 4: Events that shaped World History plus topical Australian History.
23EXE004: Table Tennis (Tuesdays)
Tue 28th Mar, starting at: 09:30 AM
Leader: Linda Andrews, Venue: Hills Hub MP 1 2 3
We are a very enthusiastic group of players whose aims are fitness and fun. We laugh as hard as we play. You don't have to play at Olympic standard to join us. Classes are held every Tuesday 9:30am-12:00 Noon.
23DIS004: Philosophy
Tue 28th Mar, starting at: 10:00 AM
Leader: Eddie Vaughan, Venue: Hills Hub T 1 2
This course explores questions that arise frequently in philosophy, but it does not require any special reading or assume previous study of philosophy. The course will outline the opinions on them offered by prominent philosophers, but there will be opportunities for class members to discuss their own opinions. Here are some of the questions that arise in philosophy: What is the Ideal life’? What — if anything - can we claim to know for certain? Is democracy the best kind of government? Do we have free will? How do we judge good and bad? Should rights be subordinate to social order? Is human life more important than animal life? Artificial intelligence: Can machines think?
23MUS001: Musicians Sharing Group
Tue 28th Mar, starting at: 10:30 AM
Leader: Gaye Dunstan, Venue: Evergreens
Do you delight in the making of music? This weekly gathering aims to give musicians a chance to perform for and with each other in a non-threatening environment. Both individual and small group performances will be encouraged alongside of participation in the whole group music. Whether you have recently started playing for the first time or are picking up after a long break this may be what you have been looking for. Robyn Sorensen, who is the other tutor for the group, arranges music for the specific mix of instruments we play and leads the group playing. We encourage all instrumentalists to join us.
23EXE003: Pickleball
Tue 28th Mar, starting at: 01:30 PM
Leader: Barry O'Neill, Venue: Cockatoo Stadium
Pickleball is a fun paddle sport which you can learn in minutes and play for a lifetime. There is a net, paddles and a lightweight ball and you can play singles or doubles. Pickleball is lower impact than tennis and has features of table tennis and badminton. Young or older or in-between, you’ll enjoy this game which can be competitive or just fun and social. Pickleball will keep you active without being too energetic. If you want to get involved in a fun, social and active game, Pickleball is for you!
23LAN001: German for Beginners
Tue 28th Mar, starting at: 05:00 PM
Leader: John Maguire, Venue: Hills Hub T 1 2
Make your next European trip so much more enjoyable! Learn basic German conversation in a friendly, supportive and relaxed atmosphere! As a component of the course, you will also discover aspects of German culture and history. Whether you are completely new to German, the first language of over a hundred million Europeans, or have some previous knowledge, you will feel 'Willkommen' (welcome) in this class!
23EXE002: Bushwalking (Wednesdays)
Wed 29th Mar, starting at: 09:00 AM
Leader: Dot Radings, Venue: Various
The bushwalking group will meet in various starting locations, as advised by the tutor, every Wednesday at 9.00. Walks will generally be somewhere in the areas of Lysterfield, Mt Dandenong and Gembrook, Berwick, and Pakenham. Expect to walk about 6-8 km each week. Each walk takes from 90 to 120 Minutes. There will be some rough and steep tracks. Reasonable fitness required. The leader will carry a basic first aid kit. There are no walks in school holidays, days of Total Fire Ban and very rainy days.
23EXE007: Walking Football
Wed 29th Mar, starting at: 10:30 AM
Leader: Maurice Waring, Venue: Worrell Reserve
Walking Football is a small-sided, low-impact, modified version of soccer, suitable for all levels of ability and fitness, and is especially suitable for seniors. Walking Football aims to provide participants physical & mental health benefits, social contentedness and promotion of the benefits of ongoing physical activity. It is open to male and female players, and it is not permitted to run, shoulder charge or use any physical force. It's certainly good exercise, and lots of fun!
23ART009: Seven Centuries of Music
Wed 29th Mar, starting at: 01:00 PM
Leader: Eddie Vaughan, Venue: Hills Hub T 1 2
This course explores the development of Western music from the Late Middle Ages to the start of the Twentieth Century. It samples music from the Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, and Romantic periods and discusses how the social histories of those times influenced the music. The tutor, Edward Vaughan, PhD, M.A. lectured on Psychology and Social Science at Monash University for many years and held visiting fellowships at Oxford, Trinity College Dublin, and a number of other overseas universities. He has not studied music formally, but has long been interested in the types of music featured in this course.
Please feel free to visit us and experience the relaxed, friendly atmosphere of U3A Emerald and check out some of the many things we get up to. You will be made most welcome!
Find email, phone and address details on our Contact Us page.
Another good session on Wednesday – many thanks to Gerry Fay from Whittlesea for once again showing us the ropes. Our small enthusiastic group is really enjoying the exercise and the fun but we need more players. If you can walk you can play this game – don’t worry about skill level that will come in time.
Click “Read More” for the following link to view all the latest network news for February 2023. https://mailchi.mp/u3avictoria/network-news-february-2023
Please click on “Read More” for the link to view an upcoming community event that will explain background for the future referendum: https://mailchi.mp/1f6d6a1bf449/info-session-on-the-voice-deep-listening?e=79394691e9