November 2011 Newsletter - GraniteNet

Bits and Pieces - Photography - Investment - Discussion - Music - Christmas SocialDigital Photography: The DigitalPhotography group have decidedto pursue a project over the nexttwelve months to produce a calendarof U3A activities.Convenor Liz Drake has come backfrom an overseas trip, full of enthusiasmand ideas on how to give newimpetus and photographic experienceto the group.The intention is to document thenext 12 month’s U3A activities inphotographs, but also to includesome recipes, garden tips and informationon our groups and their topics.If you are interested in taking part inthis project, just come along to theDigital Photography group, and youwill learn about computer photographictools like Publisher, PhotoShop, and the use of your digitalcamera.Investment Club: At last we areon our way with the new group. Wehave achieved registration of our E-trade account, and can now begin dealingon the stock market.Investments proposed to start with are:Bank of Qld at $7.99 a share, TwinHills Silver Mine (or Alcyone) at 9.6cents, JB Hi-Fi at $15.05, HillgroveResources at 25 cents, Lynas at $1.24,with a backup; Bandannaat 90 cents.Maurie’s portfolio equivalent of -7oz Gold- $12,002 and 10kg Silver -$10,024make an interesting comparison.We will no doubt make some mistakes(pick some duds) on the way, butnever mind, it’s only money.If anyone wants to join the group, youcan do so by contributing an investmentunit, which was initially $500 butwill change as we make profits.Discussion Group: The DiscussionGroup continues to have a life of itsown, with the topic for October being‘Kids Today’. Surprisingly, this keptus going for the whole morning, with afew little diversions along the way.New participants are very welcome .Music for Pleasure: October’stopic “Gospel, Sacred, Spiritual”music gave us an amazing amount ofmaterial from which to choose,though there were a couple of favouritesthat were on most people’slist. Some of us surprised ourselves(and others) by being able to singalong with many of the songs – provingthe retention of things learned inour childhood.The next gathering will be at Oriel’sand the topic is “COLOURS”.Christmas Breakup: U3A’sChristmas Breakup will again be amorning tea at the Bramble Patch, on8th Dec. Please advise Jan Martinby Wed 30th November if you areplanning to attend, so we have anidea of numbers attending, for theBramble Patch.‘If at first an idea is not absurd, then there is no hope for it’ Albert EinsteinGardening at Mossvale - Heather’s Haven (by Leon and Kerrie)13 U3A Garden Group membersjoined with Diggers Garden membersfrom Tenterfield, Stanthorpe, Warwickand Toowoomba and the BotanicalArtists group, totalling 111garden enthusiasts to enjoy HeatherGregg’s beautiful garden on a nearperfect day.Shane Gregg gave a talk on the historyof the property of 1500 acreswhich was purchased from PeterBarnard in 1952. In the early days itwas over grazed and impoverishedwith rabbits so action was needed toimprove, so the property was contoured on the “key-line system”and divided into 100 paddocks using electric fences sosome paddocks are always spelled. They observed a couple ofrules; don’t over clear- clear some and leave a lot, don’tdrench a breeding cow, hence going organic using biodynamicpractices. Shane then discussed their new venture of “SolarFarming” to complement their income.They have an array of ground mounted solar panels on eachPage 2farm which feed 30kw of electricityeach back into the Ergon electricitygrid, enough to supply 20 to30 houses on their line. He spokeof the obstacles they had to overcomewith Ergon to be allowed tofeed in a large amount of powerinto their system. It was an informativeand interesting day, thanksto Shane and Heather’s hospitality.We have a bonus outing on Saturday12 th November combiningwith the Food Investigation Groupto visit Terry and Sue-Anne Gilmour’sproperty at The Summit, where they have planted alledible plants. Please advise Mary Courtney if you are attending.Wednesday 23 rd November is our break-up at John and ChiyokoPietruszkiewicz’s property 1623 Texas Road. Meet atWeeroona Park at 9.30am, stay for a BYO sausage sizzlelunch, bring salads to share, a chair and mug.U 3 A GR A NI TE B EL T

Poetry in Colour - Beautiful Word PicturesOctober’s Poetry Group meeting was held at the LearningCentre, on the theme of Colour, and attendance numbersreflected the growing interest in this group - it is aburgeoning group of language enthusiasts who love poetry- not necessarily the writing of it, but just thebeauty of words.One of the most evocative poems on the colour themewas brought by Mim Sheahan, (author unknown) named‘Saving Summer’In the cellar, Babci sits on an old kitchen chairmade new with glossy grey paint.Wearing an apron blooming with faded flowers,she leans over the tub of steaming water, plucks outplump tomatoes, and peels off the wet papery skins.She fills shiny jars with the soft red pulp,stretches on rubber sealers, presses down moon-roundlids, clicks closed the metal clamps.She places the jars in a wire basket, and lowers theminto a pot of bubbling water to cook.On wooden shelves in a cornershe stores stewed tomatoes beside rows of pickled beets,golden peach slices, green piccalilliand carrots the colour of October pumpkinsStanding there in late afternoon,sunlight shining through a small side window,I see her harvest preserved,a rainbow glistening in glass.Next Poetry group, the theme will be Water - and it willbe held at Rosemary Duncan’s home at 2117 EukeyRd Ballandean. (The school needs our room for the day)‘I am not a good cook. I use my smoke alarm as a kitchen timer’ Kathy LetteDromomaniacs at Girraween (by Jan Martin)A very pleasant Spring morning sawa small group of enthusiastic hikersenjoy a delicious and fortifying BBQbreakfast before setting off to explorethe beauties of Girraween,which really lives up to its name(place of flowers) at this time of theyear.We were treated to a colourful arrayof many varieties of plants – visitorswe met claimed to be “gob-smacked”by the display! Cameras were keptbusy, with Jim urging the use ofpaints to record some of the sights,especially trees.Due to the storms last week the creek was flowing stronglyand the water looked very tempting – maybe the only thingkeeping us from jumping in and enjoyingthe famous ‘slide’ was thatwe’d omitted to pack bikinis andbudgie-smugglers?The heavy rains and subsequentflooding early in the year causedconsiderable damage to the JunctionTrack, and the park people havedone a great job of restoration.Again, a very pleasant day was hadby all. We are so lucky to have sucha place on our doorstep.In November, for our last Dromomaniacsmeeting for 2011, those of uswho have travelled this year will be given the opportunityto recount a potted version of their trip.Mystery Photo - Where was this taken?The October mysteryphoto appearsto have been a difficultone - only oneresponse. Eithernot a good photo, ormaybe too obscureand not able to beidentified.The winner for Octoberwas Heather Gregg, who knewit was the Brighton Pavilion in theUK, the wonderful folly built by KingGeorge IV and begun in 1787.Heather thereforeis the winner ofthis month’s selffunded trip.November’s mysteryis to guesswhere the photoat right was taken.Entries to Steveby mid November,for the chance to be named thewinner and win our fabulous prizeof a self funded trip to ..anywhere.Mim Sheahan has a microwave ovenfor sale, a bargain at $30. The oven isalmost new, hardly used (replacedwith a convection / microwave) Willbe available after 16th November.Phone Mim after 16th Nov on46811136V OLU ME 7, IS SU E 10Page 3

U NI VERSITY OF TH E THI RDAGE, GRANIT E BELT INC.Postal Address:U3A Granite Belt Inc.PO Box 250Stanthorpe Qld 4380Phone: 07 46812301 (JA Dvorak)Fax: 07 46837103E-mail: u3agb@halenet.com.auWeb: www.granitenet.com.au (clickon Community groups to find U3A)Contacts & Group Convenors:JA Dvorak (Pres) 46812301Leon McCosker (V Pres) 46811737Carol van Klaveren (Sec) 46813495Jan Martin (Min Sec) 46841264Oriel Nielsen 46813648Steve/Mary Courtney 46837103Kerrie McCosker 46811737Liz Drake 46811718Jim Wilkinson 46810184Laurie Astill 0431174244Roy Werner 46812652Esme Hobba 46833324Jenny Stoll 46833141Irene Grevis James 0437373929Lynda Blackstock 46810120Newsletter Editor: Steve CourtneyWomen’s Views on MenMen are like the Weather.Nothing can be done to changethemMen are like Commercials.You can’t believe a word theysay.Men are like GovernmentBonds. They take soooo longto mature.Men are like Mascara. Theyrun at the first sign of emotion.Men are like Popcorn. Theysatisfy you, but only for a littlewhile.Men are like Blenders. Youneed one, but you’re not quitesure why.(Now I’ll have to find one aboutwomen.)Programme for November 2011Weekly ActivitiesEvery Mon - MahJong, Cribbage, Sewing (mornings) - at STEPS - from9.30am to 12.30pm Contact: J A Dvorak“ “ - Art Group - Senior Citizens Room - 9.30am to 4pm - cost $5Contact: Laurie Astill“ “ - Jonola (cards) - at RSL - 1.30pm - Contact: Liz DrakeEvery Wed - Heart Foundation Walking Group - from Heritage Park - 8.30amContact: JA DvorakMonthly / Fortnightly Activities1st Thur (3rd) - Discussion Group - 10am at Learning Centre - Icebreaker:Are we prepared for another La Nina?Contacts: Roy Werner / Steve Courtney1st Fri (4th) - Poetry Group - 10am at Rosemary Duncan’s home, 2117 EukeyRd Ballandean (The school needs our room) - Theme: WaterContact: Lynda Blackstock. Phone someone if you need a lift.2nd Tue (8th) - No German Language Lesson this weekContact: Irene on 0437 3739292nd Tue (8th) - Music for Pleasure - Venue: Oriel’s residence - 7pmTheme: Colours Contacts: Carol/Oriel2nd Fri (11th) - Investment Group - Learning Centre - 10.00am - Checking theresults of the initial investments - Contact: JA Dvorak2nd Sat (12th) - Food Investigations / Garden Group - at Terry and Sue AnnGilmour’s near Donnelly’s Castle - 10am - meet at WeeroonaPark at 9.30am BYO morning tea and a chair (and lunch, if youwish) Advise Mary if attending. Contact: Mary3rd Thur (17th) -General Meeting - 10am - Learning Centre - No Guest SpeakerContact: J A Dvorak (Contributions for morning tea welcomed)3rd Fri (18th) - Digital Photography Group - 10am at the Learning Centre -Topic: Making a calendar - Contact: Liz Drake4th Tue (22nd) - German Language Lessons - 10am at STEPSContact: Irene on 0437 3739294th Wed (23rd) - Garden Group Breakup for 2011 at Chiyoko and John ‘s residence,Texas Rd - meet Weeroona Park at 9.30am Contact: Kerrie/Leon4th Thur (24th) - History Group - 10.00am - Learning Centre - Topic: to beadvised Convenor: Jenny Stoll4th Thur (24th) Book Club - Lorenza’s Coffee Lounge - 2pm - Contact: Mary.Book for November: to be advised4th Fri (25th) - Dromomaniacs - 10am at Learning Centre - Reminiscences ofthis year’s travels Contact: Jan MartinMembersIf you change youre-mail address, pleaseadvise U3A GraniteBelt, so that you continueto be kept informedof our programof activities.