Welcome

President's Message

As the programme for St Heliers U3A comes to a close for 2024, I wish to thank our immediate Past President Jo Howes, members of the committee and the many others who ensured an interesting and successful year for our 190 members. The guiding philosophy of U3A is the education and stimulation of its members through inspiring speakers and interesting Study Groups. To this end, an exciting and varied list of speakers has already been confirmed for 2025. In addition to the many Study Groups now available, the committee is working to expand these to cater for the wide interests of our members, and would value your suggestions.

As well as keeping our brains active, U3A should be fun for every member. On behalf of the committee, I wish you warmest best wishes for the festive season and 2025.

John Collins MNZM President

A MUSICAL CHRISTMAS INTERLUDE

We will be entertained at our Christmas end-of-year function by Gemma Lee and Charlotte Francis. Our morning will start with: -

Beethoven's famous 'Spring' Violin Sonata in F major

Kreisler's 3 Old Viennese Dances (Liebesfreud, Liebeslied, Schön Rosmarin)

Gershwin's "It Ain’t Necessarily So" transcribed for violin and piano by Jascha Heifetz

Gemma Lee - Born in South Korea and raised in New Zealand, Gemma Lee is a collaborative pianist based in Auckland. She holds a Master of Music with First Class Honours from the University of Auckland and received numerous awards and scholarships during her tertiary studies, including the Anne Bellam Scholarship, the University of Auckland Arts & Cultural Blues Awards, and the coveted Pettman/ROSL International Chamber Music Scholarship in 2011. As a chamber musician, she has performed in venues across the United Kingdom and Europe, including at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and the Goldener Saal of the Vienna Musikverein.

Charlotte Francis - Charlotte grew up in Brisbane and began learning violin and piano from the age of five, studying violin with Elizabeth Morgan, John Willison and John Curro, and piano with Joyce Bennett and Diane Selmon. While still at school she formed a very successful string quartet with her three sisters which performed extensively throughout Australia.

Although maintaining a busy performing schedule, she completed a Bachelor of Arts with First Class Honours and then a Master of Arts from the University of Queensland. This led to a Teaching Fellowship and scholarship at the University of Otago where she gained her PhD in Classics with a Commentary on Book 10 of Martial’s Epigrams. Whilst studying, she performed regularly both as solo and ensemble performer throughout the South Island, and taught violin for the Marama Strings Project, In 2011, Charlotte commenced her Bachelor of Music in violin performance with Stephen Larsen at the University of Canterbury, before moving to Auckland to complete an Honours degree at the University of Auckland.

Both Charlotte and Gemma continue to perform regularly in solo recitals and ensembles throughout New Zealand.

Food Drive

The Team from St Heliers Church and Community Centre.

Every week they deliver food to the Glen Innes Food Bank who are threatened with closure due to lack of contributions. If you have a non-perishable item/s of food you would like to donate on Wednesday 4th December at our Christmas morning tea there will be baskets as you enter the front doors. If you are unable to come along on 4th December and would like to contribute stop by and place your donate in the basket just inside the front door.

The Glen Innes Foodbank were delighted with our generosity last year and it enabled them to make Christmas hampers for f

families in need.

New Members:

- Jacques Depuy

Note: - The committee have agreed that next year we will not be sending out our monthly Newsletter via NZ Post. If you were using this service please provide an email address when renewing your membership.

Up and coming events

If you a senior with questions about using your digital device? The St Heliers Community Centre, 100 St Heliers Bay Road have friendly volunteers available each Thursday between 10am – 12pm offering one-on-one help. Please bring your device.

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Study Group News

Our friendly Art History group takes a look at all kinds of art (painting, sculpture, architecture) and decorative arts (ceramics, glass, metalwork, textiles and furniture).

From the Stone Age to the present day and everything in between, we’ve studied and discussed art in all its aspects, styles, colours, contexts, genres and not least, the artists themselves.

We’re currently moving alphabetically through A – Z which has been really interesting.

This has given our members great flexibility to choose a topic which appeals to them for example, A for Apples, B for Bridges, K for Kahlo, O for orange (colour). It has been remarkable as well as fun, to see the variations springing from this theme.

We have two presentations each month supported by one or two entertaining YouTube clips relevant to the letter that month.

Meeting on the 3rd Tuesday each month at 1:30 in the Keeling Room (St Andrews Village) we end our sessions with a sociable cuppa in the Terraces for a catch up and lively discussion.

Do join us next time and see Art from a different angle.

Convenor: Sue Barghav (suncilla@xtra.co.nz)

Study Groups: - Study Group registration sign-up sheets for 2025 will be available at the November and December meetings. Please take the time to check these out and see which are of interest to you. Please note that you must sign up even if you are already a member of a 2024 group.

Helen Jakobi Riddle:- Why didn't the stocking eat Christmas dinner?

Almoner.

Please note we rely on our members to advise our Almoner if you are aware of any member who is ill or incapacitated, or suffering bereavement. Pamela would appreciate you contacting her by email:- Almoner.Stheliersu3a@gmail.com

Monthly Meeting Protocol.

Please ensure that you register at the Greeting Table when you arrive.

Monthly Meeting Protocol:

Please note sending an apology for non-attendance of the monthly meeting is no long a requirement.

U3A Lapel Badges.

We are now able to offer ‘pin’ as well as ‘magnet’ lapel badges. These will be available for purchase ($5 each) at the next meeting. See Heather Baigent.

Name Badge.

A reminder to all members, and especially our new members, that you should put the name and contact details of your preferred contact person on the back on your name badge in case of any emergency. Please ensure that you wear your Name Badge to all U3A meetings.

St. Heliers U3A Website.

Our website www.stheliersu3aauckland.com is updated every month by Kathy Slater. Newsletters, relevant information on study groups and much more can be found on this interesting site.

U3A On-line Courses.

These are available to all members. The online contact details are: www.u3aonline.org.au . There is no requirement for payment to access the course content. Access will enable a review of the study content and further details relating to independent or supervised study. If you are interested in any of the papers, please let Kathy Slater know, stheliersu3a@gmail.com and she will download the material as Auckland U3A network has already been registered and paid.

U3A St. Heliers History Booklet.

This interesting booklet was updated and reprinted for our 25th Anniversary and is available for purchase for $10. Copies will be available at the next meeting. Highly recommended especially for our new members.