From floristry to whale watching and wine appreciation, there is plenty on the agenda for Warrnambool’s University of the Third Age (U3A).
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U3A, designed for those who love to learn no matter what their age, held an expo on Thursday to encourage potential members to get on board.
It also helped map out the organisation’s future agenda and inform current members what was in store over the next couple of months.
President Max Couper said the expo encouraged people to come forward with ideas for study topics.
“We had lots of great contributions and, if those people have a particular passion for a topic, there is also the opportunity for them to take classes themselves,” he said.
“We’ve had new people through the door with fresh ideas so we’re heading in a good direction.”
Mr Couper said the group was changing focus, encouraging its members to volunteer to share their knowledge and interests.
“The concept of the learning in U3A is through the volunteers, through the members. The list of topics and subjects and courses is as broad as you want it to be,” he said.
“There is something for everybody and if someone wants to impart knowledge they can undertake running a class.”
Potential topics include maths, local and social history, music appreciation, languages, information technology, art, astronomy, wine appreciation, gardening, exercise and discussion groups.
There are also excursions and games and Mr Couper stressed there were “no exams and no assignments”.
Most members are retired but this is not a pre-requisite for membership and you don’t have to have academic qualifications.
“It’s mostly for people who have stopped working and want to embark on new learning,” Mr Couper said. “You meet a lot of interesting people with curiosity about a wide range of topics.
“Learning goes through your life. It doesn’t stop.”
The Warrnambool University of the Third Age was launched in 1994 to promote further learning as a recreation in a friendly and informal environment.
For more information on Warrnambool’s University of the Third Age contact Mr Couper on 0409 002 061.