As I have been absent for most of this term I especially appreciate all the work the committee members and course leaders have put into U3A Aldinga in order to keep the organisation running smoothly.

I spent seven weeks, together with my husband, Walter, and our dog, Piper, travelling in our caravan through northern New South Wales and inland southern Queensland.  We visited small towns and country areas, soaking up the history and scenery.  We also followed many of the rivers that eventually run into the Murray River.  The weather was warm and balmy with temperatures in the mid 20s, which helped to make it a very pleasant trip.

The trip to Monarto Safari Park on October 7th has been fully booked and we are all looking forward to the outing.

The Christmas lunch this year will again be held at the Willunga Hotel, with a similar menu and price.  It is great to have our own dining room and the staff members always make us feel very welcome.

It was great sadness that we said goodbye to Ted Newing, who passed away on the 11th August.  Ted was very involved in the U3A over the past twenty years, with his lecture series being the most recent contribution.  Ted was a valued member of the U3A and will be greatly missed by us all.

We give a warm welcome to our new members and look forward to meeting you soon.

I wish you all a very successful and happy fourth term.

Nola van Dam

September 2026

The year is speeding on and soon we will be starting Term 3. It would appear to me that the older I get the faster the time seems to go.

Most of our courses continue into Term 3 and we look forward to participating in them.  Thank you to all our hardworking course leaders and committee members who provide leadership, time and energy into ensuring interesting courses.

Lectures will not be held in Term 3 when Neville Hudson takes a well earned break.  Films will take the place of lectures, and Mike Dixon has an interesting array of films lined up for the film afternoons in the Aldinga Library.

We are planning a trip to Monarto Safari Park on October 7th which will be an exciting event.  Apparently it is the largest safari park outside of Africa, and it includes a new Visitor Centre which opened in 2022.  Thankfully we have had a good response from U3A members and this will enable us to book a coach and entry to the zoo.  Although it is an expensive trip, we are fortunate to be able to use some of the legacy money from the late Bob Moore to subsidise the cost of the coach.

We again give a warm welcome to our new members, and look forward to meeting you soon,

I wish you all a very successful and happy third term.

Nola van Dam

June 2026