U3A stands for University of the Third Age. The term third age means no longer in full time work. U3A provides opportunities for people to meet, share experiences and pursue commonly held interests.
The club meets monthly with a guest speaker who has unique experience in their field. Interest (study) groups meet at other times and it is encouraged that members belong to at least one study group.
The annual subscription is $30.
Subscription due on the 1st February.
From the President
Kia ora
Welcome to our April Newsletter.
I apologise for my absence from the April meeting as I will be assisting at an interschool event for high school students which I have run for many years.
Our speaker for March was Dr Adele Jackson talking about the first mechanized overland crossing of Antarctica by Vivian ( Bunny) Fuchs and the part Sir Edmund Hillary played in assisting with that crossing. Adele is also an artist as well as working in heritage conservation. Adele mentioned 2 books and had 2 more on display.
The titles of the books were
“Eight Men in a Crate” about the men who were the advance party for the crossing.
“Crevass Roulette” by John Stevenson about the difficulties encountered in crossing crevasses on the crossing.
“The Crossing of Antarctica”
“Hillary’s Antarctica”
Our speaker for the April meeting will be Dr Sarah Kessans.
The title of Sarah’s talk is “Off the Earth, for the Earth: New Zealand’s role in science in space”.
Dr Sarah Kessans is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Product Design at the University of Canterbury. Sarah’s research expertise spans biochemistry and synthetic biology, including projects related to plant-based vaccine development and bioengineering of fungi to produce high-value agricultural and pharmaceutical compounds. As an emerging leader in both the biotechnology and aerospace sectors,
Sarah is passionate about communicating her science and facilitating relationships between industry and the tertiary education sector to ensure the progression of qualified talent into these growing economic sectors.
The March meeting began with the 9th AGM for SW U3A.
At the AGM the following motions were passed unanimously
• The reviewer for 2025 will be Gilliam Gartly
• The subscription for 2026 will be $35.00.
• SW U3A will adopt the Revised Constitution to comply with the legislated requirements of the Incorporated Societies Act of 2022.
Following the AGM the office holders and Committee members for 2025 are
President Lynne Bull
Vice- President Lynda Garrett
Treasurer Lynne Newton
Minute Secretary Vanessa Rogers
Committee
Karen Chaney
Noeline Flood
Leanne Lloyd
Shirley Milligan
Lois Sidery
Ros Thornley
Colin Wilmshurst
In keeping with our goal of social interaction, if you are sitting or standing next to someone you do not know or who is new to the club, please introduce yourself.
Ngā Mihi
Lynne Bull
Next meeting
Date: 12 March 2025
Venue: Mohoao Room, Te Hapua: Halswell Centre
Chairs: 9.30 am (assistance appreciated)
Tea/coffee: 10:00 am
Meeting: 10:15 am
Guest: 10:30 am Adele Jackson
Topic: “Off the Earth, for the Earth: New Zealand’s role in science in space. “
At the end of the meeting push your chair to the back of the room to be stacked.
Membership Information
2025 subscription fee $30:
Pay online by direct credit to 38-9018-0256312-00 South West Christchurch U3A, and include your family name, your given name, and U3A2025 in the reference fields.
Alternatively pay with cash by putting the cash in an envelope with your family name, given name, U3A 2025 sub on the outside of the envelope and hand this to the Treasurer at a meeting.
Or pay directly into the bank account given above
Planned Speakers
| Date | Speaker | Topic |
| 9 April | Dr Sarah Kessans | Off the Earth, for the Earth: New Zealand’s role in science in space. |
| 14 May | Dr Kyla-Loiuse Horn | Growing our understanding of neurodegenerative diseases in NZ |
| 11 June | Joy Reid | My Journey as a TV reporter and Entrepreneur |
SWU3A online courses
Members can use the on-line courses our group has subscribed to by logging on to our website.
Please ask for the login and password if you are interested. The courses we have subscribed to for the year are free but if there are other courses you are interested in there is a small charge.