Lifelong learning on offer with U3A

The latest offerings from the University of the Third Age Margaret River (U3A) will be unveiled on July 21, with a huge Semester 2 program of long and short courses for older locals.

Founded in 2012, U3A Margaret River is a member of a voluntary, non-profit, international movement that promotes and practices life-long learning. It offers low-cost opportunities to learn new skills or acquire new knowledge in a relaxed and informal environment.

The local chapter provides new courses and offers ongoing learning on popular topics ranging from art to exercise, food, history, foreign languages, travel and more.

This semester, Dr Charlie Greenfield, with contributions from Michelle Theunissen and Bill Castleden, will present a four-session course on the interplay between art, medicine and science that should both intrigue and enlighten.

Practicing physiotherapist Ellissa Kierath will run a Tai Chi for Balance course, teaching the basic forms of Sun style Tai Chi, while Eamonn McCabe’s course will instruct participants in the art of playing Bridge.

South West historian Bill Bunbury will present two new courses.

The first, over three sessions, will cover the history of the Australian and the British Broadcasting Corporations from their earliest beginnings in the 1920s to the present day.

Bill’s second course will consider the lives of four famous classical composers – Vivaldi, Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven – and how they succeeded despite the adversities they faced.

Christine Wilder will host a bird-watching course bringing like-minded birding enthusiasts together to enhance their knowledge of local bush birds.

“We’ll get out into the bush close to town to listen to and recognise some of those mysterious calls during this three session course.”

Other courses include cooking, language, literature appreciation, gardening and popular topics such as Flora of the Margaret River with Jane Scott, and Politics, Sex and Religion with two offerings of this four session course from course leaders Ross Goulden, Margie Moir, Alan Moore-Fiander and Barbara Maidment.

If you’re already a U3A Margaret River member (or wish to join), take a look and plan your course activity from July 21 when the program is uploaded on the U3A website at u3amr.org.au/courses.

Semester 2 enrolment will be available online at u3amr.org.au/members from Monday July 28 on-line at 11.30am, and in person at Margaret River HEART from 11.30am to 2.00pm (where you can pay by cash, cheque or card).

For those who haven’t paid their 2025 membership, the fee for the remainder of the year is just $25 with courses costing $10 to $15 each.