By Danielle Kutchel
It’s been a bumper year for CaseyU3A, even as lockdowns restrict in-person events.
Despite ongoing restrictions, the innovative organisation has reached 440 members and counting – up from 362 in March 2020.
U3A – University of the Third Age – provides a variety of informative and fun classes for people of retirement age.
The classes help keep participants active and provide a means of social interaction as people from across Casey share their interests, skills and passions.
U3A has operated for 31 years in the City of Casey, after starting at Fiddlers Green Retirement Village.
CaseyU3A still operates within Fiddlers Green, but has expanded to Woodlands Park Retirement Village, Selandra Community Centre, Lynbrook Community Centre, Brentwood Park Neighbourhood House, the Old Cheese Factory, Akoonah Park and the homes of many private tutors.
In non-Covid times, the Casey branch offers over 50 classes, encompassing exercise, art and craft, mind classes (current affairs, book clubs, genealogy and more), soul classes (meditation, spirituality, languages and more) and music.
All classes are run by tutors with a knowledge of or special interest in the class they run.
Of course, operating during the pandemic hasn’t been without its challenges.
Members have kept in touch over the lockdowns and continued to look out for each other via Zoom calls, emails, print and digital newsletters, phone calls and cards sent between tutors and classes, and members.
Many members said receiving the cards made their day.
A health and welfare survey was also conducted to find out how members were coping.
After the results were received, members identified as being in need received regular phone calls from committee members to help keep up morale and support.
Membership fees for 2021 are $25 for the year, with fees kept low because the classes are run by volunteers.
Current classes offered over Zoom include Current Affairs, Uke, Strum Club, Zumba – Gold, Gentle Exercise, Meditation, Tai Chi, Sketching, Bookclub, Computer Forums, Ted Talks (starting October), Discussion Groups, French, and Literature Club.
CaseyU3A will offer a limited range of classes for both members and non-members during the Casey Ageing Positively Festival in October. For details, visit https://www.casey.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/user-files/Ageing Positively Festival 2021 Program_Digital.pdf
For more information on CaseyU3A, visit https://casey.u3anet.org.au/ or phone Jean, membership officer, on 0478 226 521.
