Members of the Cranbourne U3A braved the heat for their first meeting for the year on Friday. Back from left: Tony Camilleri, Gail Cantwell, Gary Baker, Ed Courtney. Middle: Violet Meddicks, Dorothy Miller, Shirley Miller, Dianne Reaby, Pat Courtney, Catherine Galloway, Danny Galloway, Cicely Hanley, Sue Baker. Front: Marjorie Stephenson, Terri Bennett, Marie Jokanovic and Gwyn Allan.By Alison Noonan
CRANBOURNE U3A received more good news last week after Casey Council offered the group a second ‘home’ at the Old Shire Offices.
The U3A had hoped to secure vacant space for its classes at a venue within the Cranbourne town centre when it started last year but accepted a donation of free use of the scout hall in Devon Meadows.
The news that a room in the refurbished Old Shire Offices was now also available for hire delighted its 80 members at U3A’s first meeting for 2006 on Friday.
President Bev Wood said the Old Shire Offices were U3A’s first choice of home. She was over the moon at Casey Council’s offer.
“The room is lovely. Dark wood, blue carpet, lovely windows, a kitchen, toilets and just a hop, skip and jump from our office in the Cranbourne Information and Support Services building,” she said.
“We immediately decided we would try to use this room for some of our activities while the scout hall will still be needed most days as well.”
Mrs Wood said that although the group would have to pay to use the room, it was too good an opportunity to pass up.
“It was a case of thinking we would cover the cost somehow.
“It was too good an opportunity to overlook for the members we already have and those who will join in the future.
“Council had basically given us first opportunity – there are a number of other organisations that want the room too,” she said.
Mrs Wood said the group would hire the room for a full day each Friday and Monday and Wednesday afternoons.
However, she said at a total cost of about $6000 U3A would be forced to start serious fundraising efforts to afford the room.
Classes at the Cranbourne U3A for 2006 include folk art, tai chi, parchment craft, genealogy, gardening, general needlecraft, Italian, computers, papercrafts, sewing, art, reading, walking and armchair travel.
For more information, contact the Cranbourne U3A office on 5996 3333 or Bev Wood on 5995 0339 or 0418 998 899.
