What is U3A Upper Yarra?

It is a University in the original sense of a “community where those eager to learn meet those eager to teach”.

A working party and steering committee consisting of Vernon and Sheila Denford, Helen Neilson, Eric Felbar, Valda Street, Janet Sowden, Lynn McLellan, Anne O’Shaughnessy, Ted and Joan Clarke, Albert Grulke, Fritz Rappold and Sally Brennan, was established to launch a U3A in the Upper Yarra region of Victoria and consequently the Upper Yarra U3A Inc. was formed at a public meeting of 70 people on 16th March 2010. This meeting was also attended by Gembrook MLA Tammy Lobato and Yarra Ranges Shire councilor Chris Templar and U3A Network Representatives Elsie Mutton and Harry Dobson. The first committee of Management was elected and 36 people enrolled in the various classes that were on offer.

The goals of our U3A were to encourage sharing interests and skills, to keep our minds creative, to be in touch with others, to have a good social, intellectual and recreational time and above all to continue to learn.

Classes commenced in April of that year. By that time there were 112 members enrolled in 15 classes which included:

• • Jazz Appreciation
  • Creative Writing
  • German Conversation
  • Horticulture
  • Pastel Painting
  • Philosophy
  • Japanese Archery
  • Bushwalking

Today there are 187 members who are benefiting from the many courses on offer and we are grateful to our volunteer class leaders/tutors who freely give of their time to share their knowledge and skills.