These Notices were Updated on: 21/6/22

Newsletters page now holds a variety of Reports from Groups.  Have a look

Alison Bayly receives an Award 
Ramblers' News

Find  the latest Newsletter May 2022, on the Historical Newsletters page

There was a good attendance at the meeting on June 9 despite the weather. Robyn Parkinson of the Tawa Community Board gave a presentation on the Bus on Demand pilot. This is going well and Metlink may consider including Kenepuru Hospital on the route, due to demand. The service does require a smart phone and an app. Staff at the Community Centre can help to download the app if anyone needs assistance. Please use the bus- “Use it or Lose it!"

Tim provided information on a membership drive with leaflet drops, pamphlets and an open day planned in July or August. Membership is currently 175 but declining.

Pat and Alison have met with Mana U3A who are keen to work together to offer courses to each others members. This would benefit both clubs by offering a broader range of courses at no extra cost.

New, second -semester courses were introduced by the leaders. These include history; photography; play reading; quiz; reduce, reuse and recycling; and Tawa-Linden Walkers who are now part of U3A.  A good opportunity to try something new, go on, give it a go!   So ENROL NOW

The course entitled Impact of Philosophy is now more than halfway through. So far, and with attendances of between five and eleven (reflecting the impact of Covid 19) it has sought to examine our world in terms of the lasting practical effects that are still visible because of the application of philosophical concepts. Philosophy is not just complex talk, it is the very stuff of our human lives and proudest achievements.

Those powerful leaps in reasoning involve a myriad of schools of history-altering thought including (bio)ethics, logic, political, constitutional and social movements, social/scientific theories and the very way that so many forms of art portray and have moved us all over the centuries.

In his seminal book The Socrates Express (central focus of the course) author Eric Weiner went on multiple trains to visit the places where men like Socrates, Rousseau, Gandhi, Plato, Sartre and Nietzsche developed their world-changing thoughts. We follow Eric’s lead here in Tawa (at the Union church).

These were the gigantic figures who gave us Socratic method of argument, nonviolent protest, existentialism and the towering Social Contract. Group members Dave Smith, Graham Ellett, John Bolland, Anne Doggett plus Barbara (and Peter) Woods have delivered papers on these and many other topics.

By the end of the course we will also have listened to philosophy-based songs, viewed game-changing paintings (Mona Lisa), read novels of massive social import and dissected a Shakespeare tragedy (Macbeth) for telling echoes of these important landmarks in human thought. From 20 June onwards there will be several more sessions and all members are welcome to attend.  The fortnightly schedule has been telescoped to make better use of time and resources. We will finish in early August.

Starting point has changed to Tawa Junction -  at the Wellington Beds end of the carpark. (the previous location was the RSA). 

Writing Group Articles

New Stories:  The Storm
                       Padma -about my life
                       Educating the Neighbours (and Others) – by Ainsley                    
                       I'm Not Dead Yet                    
                      One ANZAC Day
Older stories: Leaving - very topical                    
                      Epidemic of Love.                    
                      Book Published

It was very sad news to learn of the passing of Virginia Ng, for many years the coordinator of the U3A Table Tennis Group. She will be sorely missed.

Virginia was inevitably first to arrive and would be setting up table tennis tables and sorting out nets and balls while the rest of the group were still arriving. Pre - Covid she would always have the morning tea organised ready for the half time break. For many, Virginia included, the morning tea and chat sometimes took equal billing with the table tennis. Having said that in her heyday Virginia would have been an excellent player - she had all the technique and shots and even of late she held her own in doubles games and could produce the occasional winning forehand smash - much to her own enjoyment.
Cheerful and Chirpy to the end Virginia was a joy to know - may she rest in peace.
Reg Hammond

Weeks of bleak weather and thunderstorms can certainly lead to a serious attack of Cabin Fever.  Getting closer to Petanque Friday the predictions were for rain in the morning (again).  It sometimes seems as though the forecasters are just giving us too much information and we’re thrown back onto our instincts.   So it was today, 17^th June.

An informal source stated that the rain wasn’t to fall until Friday evening.  The decision was made to check out the weather in the morning and see for ourselves whether it was impossible to throw petanque balls at a kitty.  The skies were cloudy but we decided to get our email out to the regulars and see how things developed.

Petanquers turned up in ones and twos until we had twelve would-be players.  Clearly we had been suffering from petanque withdrawal symptoms so the conversations were loud and excited.  Two games were staged simultaneously and a thoroughly great morning was enjoyed.  There is absolutely nothing like a spell in the fresh air.  Let’s hope for more.

Music Performance News ...
Table Tennis News...

Tawa U3A is a group of people who are free during the day to gather for activities of interest.

We organise courses to teach subjects of interest like Art , Ancestry or Ukulele.

There are Discussion groups where you can express your point of view, and games both indoor and outdoor.

Talks are arranged on topics of interest like Health, History or Travel. We cooperate with other U3A groups and share sessions.

All up, we offer more than 50 learning and social opportunities at minimal cost.

You are certain to find some things that are of interest to you.  

You can email us - [email protected]

Hi everybody, from Rosemary Smith you 2022 news editor. I have had surgery for 
carpal tunnel syndrome in my right hand and are recovering.
I welcome contributions that make for informative and interesting reading for our members, it’s 
increasingly important to keep continuity.
Thank you to all those members who have happily sent me material AND photos about group 
activities, interesting stories and snippets about their lives. 
Please do keep them coming

Stay safe everyone, and I love the cartoon that Helen Roper sent me! Rosemary Smith

Joining U3A Tawa can be done with a minimum of fuss. An easy way is to ring or email one of our Committee members whose names and contacts appear in the Contact Us page of this site.  You can also use our ENROL page or contact info email at the bottom of this page. The bank account numbers for paying the annual sub are also in the Contact Us page or you can pay to a Committee member. We look forward to hearing from you soon. Welcome to U3A Tawa.