Newsletter Second Quarter 2013 - U3A South Africa

U3A
Reg. No. 105-570-NPO
University of the Third Age
JOBURG NORTH
NEWS
First Quarter 2014
MONTHLY MEETINGS
Our meetings are held on the first Tuesday*
of every month at 9:30 for 10:00 at Randburg
Gereformeerde Kerk, 42 Third Road,
Northwold.
(*exceptions in July, December and January
holiday periods).
All Randburg Members, as well as visiting
Members should please wear their U3A
membership name tag.
Last minute changes to the programme are
sometimes unavoidable. Where changes
need to be made, please accept our
apologies.
Thank you to all members who have in the
past recommended speakers and subjects
for our Upcoming Monthly Meetings.
Your suggestions are always welcome as is
your feedback.
Please continue to contact
Antoinette Reis (Speaker Planner) at
mantoinette@discoverymail.co.za
or 072 731 0855
OUTINGS
Please contact Cornelia van Biljon (Day
Excursions Co-Ordinator) at
vanbiljoncornelia@gmail.com
or 082 448 3038 for further information on
all outings.
UPCOMING EVENTS MONTHLY MEETINGS
Tuesday 4th February 2014
“The Vredefort Impact Revealed – A Geologist's Journey.”
Professor Roger Gibson has been involved in studying the Vredefort Dome
for more than 20 years. His talk will outline how technological advances and
Space exploration slowly revealed the truth about the formation of the Dome
and its relation to the much larger impact structure, the limits of which likely
extended north of Johannesburg.
Tuesday 4th March 2014
“Living with the Bushmen.”
Paul John Myburgh is the author of 'The Bushman Winter Has Come'
published by Penguin Books. He encourages reading the book before listening
to the talk, which is titled “An exploration of the human journey told through the
platform of the First People - The Bushmen. A consideration of the soul nature
of the ancient race, the archetypal human, and it's reflections in the modern
human soul.”
Tuesday 1st April 2014
“Rescue South Africa's response to the earthquake in Haiti in 2010 and
Japan's earthquake and tsunami in 2011."
Bruce Hepburn from Communications, Rescue South Africa, will talk about
how the rescue teams operate in these dangerous and traumatic
environments. The presentation though very realistic ends with a positive and
uplifting message.
Tuesday 6th May 2014
“Is stress holding you prisoner? Free yourself."
David Graham is a Motivational Speaker and this talk is highly entertaining
and dynamic with plenty of "take home value."
It will help attendees turn stress into success and obstacles into opportunities
and to identify Stress Givers, Stress Triggers, Stress Relievers and Stress
Preventers. This talk will leave those present motivated and energised.
UPCOMING OUTINGS
Vredefort Dome Bus Tour
8 February 2014 (Whole Day Outing)
The bus will depart from the Gereformeerde Kerk, Northwold at 7:15 and will
return at around 17:00. Our tour leader is Roger L. Gibson, Professor of
Structural Geology and Metomorphic Petrology at Wits University. He will also
be our speaker at the monthly meeting on 4th February 2014, which would be
a good introduction to anyone interested in this tour. Unfortunately only
members who have paid in full will be accommodated. Due to a very good
response, the bookings are now closed, but cancellations are possible, and
there is a waiting list.
The stops on the Red Bus Tour are:
1. Gautrain Station (Park Station)
2. Gandhi square
3. Santarama Miniland ( R35 entrance fee)
4. James Hall Transport Museum
(Entrance free)
5. Gold Reef City Theme Park (from where
we will depart and return to)
6. Apartheid Museum (R10 off the R50
entrance fee)
7. Mining District Walk
8. Newtown Precinct
9. Origins Centre at Wits (R60 entrance
fee)
10. The Grove, Braamfontein
11. Constitution Hill (R25 entrance fee)
12. Gautrain Station (Park Station)
RED BUS Tour - Johannesburg
2nd April 2014
We will meet at 10:00 at Gold Reef City, which is the 5th bus stop, to buy the
tickets (R75 for pensioners) at the City Sightseeing Office. The parking is
ample and secure. The next bus to depart from there is 10:35.
There are 12 stops in all including the Apartheid Museum and Constitution Hill,
and you can hop off and on wherever you want to (there is a bus every 30
minutes) if you want to take photos or look around, and we will therefore not
stay together as a group. You need to take extra money if you want to enter
some of the museums and centres, eat lunch and do shopping. Just make
sure that you keep the timetable with you (which I will send you shortly before
the tour) so that you can get back to Gold Reef City.
Please contact Cornelia at vanbiljoncornelia@gmail.com or 082 448 3038 for
further information on the above outings.
There are no outings in March and June
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OUT
&
ABOUT
UPCOMING SOCIAL LUNCH
Our first Social Lunch for 2014 is booked for Wednesday,
12 February, at Olive 'n Twist, Stepping Stones Village,
283 Honeydew West Road, North Riding. It is a lovely
open-air restaurant offering continental cuisine and they also
offer 25% discount on all food and drinks. Reservations are
necessary so please contact Sheila on 0720998922 or e-mail
sheilavdb@mweb.co.za BEFORE Saturday, 8 February.
Look forward to seeing you there at noon.
Sterkfontein Caves
6 November 2013.
After a light lunch the group went
on a guided tour through the
museum and then into the cool
depths of the caves. The
photographers in the group had a
field day capturing the stalagmites
and stalagtites. Outside in the heat
again we walked around the Caves
on the beautiful pathways, to take
The End of the Year Gathering
5 November 2013.
Members gathered for a light
lunch which was served
accompanied by the music of
Terry van Zyl. The Art Group had
an exhibition of their work and Bill
Reynard, the U3A Joburg North
Chairman gave a lively and
entertaining talk in the auditorium.
From left to right:
Marleen Rood, Bill de Swardt,
Peter Mason, Morag Flaming,
Celia Human.
photos of the surroundings, and back to the Exhibition Centre
for a wonderful refreshing COLD drink and water. We all left
tired but with a promise to re-visit for more photos.
Lunch at Mike’s Kitchen
13 November 2013.
This lunch was well attended and a good time was had by all.
The food and venue were great as usual. When the dancing
began, the ‘electric slide’ was a hit, with some of the waiters
and waitresses joining in.
Visit to Maropeng
11 November 2013.
Maropeng which
means 'place where
we come from', is the
official Visitor Centre
of the Cradle of
Humankind.
It was a cloudy day,
but did not matter as
the whole exhibition is
underground. The tour
started with a trip down the river through the ice age and
volcanic eruptions.
Most of the exhibits in the main hall are participative with
emphasis on the evolution of man – from models of our
ancestors with gnashing dentures and snapping incisors.
The trip was crowned by an exhibition of actual fossils. We saw
the bones of therapsids and dicynodonts which, according to
the evolution theory, eventually evolved into mammals and us.
We finished the tour with a wonderful lunch in the restaurant
and left well-nourished and even better friends.
Photography Group
Outing to Gold Reef City
On Wednesday 9th October, four members of our U3A
photographic group paid a visit to the Gold Reef City Theme
Park, which provided, much to our pleasant surprise, an
unexpected selection of diverse photographic opportunities.
From left to right:
Marleen Rood,
Pierre de Klerk
and
Morag Flaming.
While the “Old” GRC exhibits are still there, the venue has
been extended to provide shady trees, water features,
examples of vintage machinery and a large selection of fun
rides – which were enjoyed by young and old alike.
These rides provided wonderful “human interest” subjects as
we photographed the participants' faces and body language,
which covered the whole gamut from enjoyment to sheer
terror. The antics of a very dexterous street performer also
added to our subject matter.
The park is spacious, well maintained and clean and although
there were busloads of school children present, it never felt
overcrowded. An interesting venue with good photographic
“buzz”.
Zoo Outing
On 18th September four of our photographic group stalwarts
spent an enjoyable morning at the Johannesburg Zoo for a
“pictorial” photo shoot.
The zoo is not usually associated with wildlife photography,
which indeed was not the aim of the participants. The venue
does however offer many interesting photo opportunities for
us to develop our compositional and artistic skills, especially
in the field of close-up and Macro photography.
The result of our outing was
highly rewarding, so much so,
that one member, Celia
Human, received an award at
the Randburg Photographic
Club monthly meeting for her
close-up crocodile image
taken at the zoo, called ‘Croc
Power’.
Pierre de Klerk also won
an award with his
‘Sylvan Stream’ in the Slow
Shutter category.
As photographers, we are
always looking to produce
that illusive “WOW” image,
irrespective of the venue
where the photo was taken
and the zoo offers a legitimate range of subjects where artistic
freedom can be exercised.
While small in number, all participants agreed that the
morning was both enjoyable and successful.
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SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS
Embroidery Group
Caroline Botha is willing to give a
monthly class to members, starting in
February but the actual date is yet to
be finalised. It will be on a Thursday
from 9h30 to 12h00. If you have a partly finished piece of
embroidery or wish to learn basic embroidery, Caroline
is willing to have a group of six ladies at her home at
44 Emerald Gardens, Hamerkop Road, Boskruin (near the
Boskruin Community Centre). If you are interested, please
phone Caroline at 011 792 5464 or 072 372 1849.
Spanish Language Group
Marita Zimmermann started this group with an Introductory
Course in 2013 and it has progressed so well that the members
of this group can no longer be called beginners. With this in
mind, Marita has decided to offer another Introductory Course
at the end of January or early February, as well as the
established Advanced Course, so that newcomers will be
encouraged to join.
Please contact Marita at maritaz@mweb.co.za or 011 704 4782
or 082 445 0103 for more information.
From left to right:
Lyn Godley,
Jenny Wagner,
Marita Zimmermann,
Jim Botman,
Heather Holland
Why Stargaze?
All the wonders of the Universe are up there
waiting for us to look at them, whether with the
naked eye, binoculars or a small telescope.
The U3A has selected a dark site at Kenjara
Lodge, Nooitgedaght. This venue has the
added advantage of serving an excellent pub
dinner (for your own account) before the
stargazing session starts.
The dates set aside are always on Thursday
(on or before New Moon) These reserved
dates are:
30 January
27 February
27 March
24 April
1 May
29 May
26 June
27 July
21 August
28 August
25 September
23 October
20 November
18 December
During Summer I keep a nervous eye on the
weather, in case the clouds hide the stars and
planets. In winter the skies are normally clear,
but it is cold, so you should dress as though
you are going to the North Pole.
Bill Reynard
Stargazers’ Group
Harry Bridgeland (92) does not let his age slow him
down. He is a computer whiz, knows how to use the
latest techno gadgets like iPhones and iPads and still
has time to be part of the Line Dancing Group,
amongst his other activities.
One could say Harry is awake, aware, wired,
connected and a great example of someone who is
enjoying himself regardless of his age.
Line Dancers:(from left)
Betty Smith,
Harry Bridgeland,
John Duncan and
Margaret Doyle.
for an interesting and active retirement
Special Interest Groups
U3A Joburg North invites you to enjoy a retirement that is active and interesting,
so please have a look at the Special Interest Groups list* and you are sure to find an activity that interests you.
By participating, you will certainly make new friends. Some of the activities on offer are:
Walking, Chess, Reading, Line Dancing, Carpet Bowls, Opera, Ballroom Dancing, Art, Shakespeare for Fun,
Social Literary Group, Photography, Scrabble, Canasta, Spanish, Bingo, Stargazing, Croquet.
New courses are constantly being added as people volunteer to conduct a course using their own unique
skills.
Affordable Special Interest Groups
* For details of the Special Interest Groups, please look at the contact list in the Church foyer,
or on the U3A website (www.u3a.org.za) under Joburg North Branch.
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Focus on...
Eileen Hargreaves set up 'The Social Literary Group'
last year, and after some consideration, she has decided
to rename it and it is now known as the 'Informal Social
Discussion Group'.
There are about 10 members at present, comprised
mainly of residents at Elm Park Village where the
meetings are held. Eileen researches topics that she
feels would spark debate among the group such as
current events, history, travel, trends, entertainment and
other diverse subjects.
At the first meeting of 2014,
Eileen started the
discussion by presenting
the topic of New Years
Resolutions and then on to
New Years Festivals of the
World. Members had lively
discussions about the
Edinburgh Festival, and this
led on to a conversation
about Hogmanay, The
Minstrel Carnival in Cape
Town, and inevitably on to
other festivals like the
Grahamstown National Arts
festival, among others...and
this was only ONE of the topics that Eileen introduced to
the group. It was a very pleasant morning with different
opinions, viewpoints and input by all the members.
Eileen and David Hargreaves
If you enjoy informal social discussions on a variety of
subjects, with interesting people, in pleasant
surroundings then this is a wonderful way to spend a
morning.
The group meets on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the
month in the Main Lounge, at Elm Park Village, Suzanne
Crescent, Northcliff, on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of
the month.
Please contact Eileen Hargreaves at
011 678 9725, 076 574 14466 or zyan@mweb.co.za
if you would like further information.
BASIC GEOLOGY COURSE
The School of Geosciences at Wits will be presenting
another edition of the hugely successful 20-week course
on basic geology. This is a great opportunity to find out
more about how the Earth works. There is an economic
focus to the course, however it is suitable for all interested
beginners. The course is presented by a range of wellqualified
staff with many years of experience. During the
course there will be hands-on practical work on mineral and
rock identification together with a look at how to read and
understand geological maps.
A certificate of participation will be given at the end of the
course. No examination is involved, only a self-evaluation
practical test in the last week. A minimum number of 15
participants is required to make the course viable.
A maximum of 40 participants can be accommodated so
register early to avoid disappointment.
For further information contact
grant.byee@wits.ac.za (76633)
or judith.kinnaird@wits.ac.za ( 76583).
U3A Joburg North Website:
www.u3a.org.za/U3A_JBN/JBN.htm
U3A Joburg North Advertiser
If you have skills of any kind, are able to offer a service,
or would like to sell or exchange items that you no longer
need, please contact either
Heather Anderson at hdawnanderson@gmail.com
083 308 1720, or
Norma MacCallum at normac46@gmail.com
082 214 7009
to place an advert.
COMMUNITY BOARD
Invisible Women
On the Letters Page in a recent Magazine, some
readers made the following comments:
“As one gets older one does become invisible,
often ignored in conversation and in shops, and
overlooked when it comes to beauty products and
fashion. We do our own chores, pay our bills,
entertain and have our own income but suddenly
we become has-beens. An older woman who takes
care of herself is still an asset to her family and
society.”
“Not every older person wants to sit in a rocker
sipping tea. It is the techno era, for heaven’s sake,
and older people are still savvy, and able to use
modern gadgets and they want to wear lipstick
while they do.”
“Women of a certain age seem to be off the radar.
Why? We spend our money on products just like
younger women, but seem to be marginalised...
and don’t get me started on decent, affordable
clothing for older women - or rather the lack of it.”
U3A
JOBURG NORTH
IS LOOKING FOR:
An accounting officer registered in
terms of the Close Corporation Act.
If anyone is able to do an audit of the
U3A 2013 books of account
at a minimal cost or pro bono kindly
contact Antoinette on
cell: 072 731 0855 or tel: (011) 675 2488.
The Community Board is a place to voice your opinions and
concerns, or enlighten with anecdotes or observations.
To contribute, please contact Norma at
011 465 9705 or normac46@gmail.com
Postal Address:
U3A Joburg North Branch,
P.O Box 2942, North Riding 2162
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