PAPATOETOE U3A NEWSLETTER:
April 2017
2016
Committee
President
Margaret Noakes
Treasure
Judy Foot
Secretary
Beth Bach
Newsletter
Editor
Carole Watson
Speakers
Morning Teas
Anne Trevena, Janice Smart,
Barbara Field
Sue Wharton
Network Rep
Judy Foot
PR
Beth Bach
Asst. President
Anne Trevena
Asst. Treasure
Anne Trevena
Meet and Greet
Alison Cooke
Almoner
Anne Trevena
Helper
Jo Gamble
Trips will be discussed and decided at committee meetings.
Meeting 1st Wednesday of the month
5th April
Jenny Clark will talk on “Her Fathers War”
The meeting on the 1st March
A young lady from Auckland council told us about what will happen when the ‘Black Bags’ will no longer be
collected. Judging by her reception some in the audience were more concerned about the inorganic
collection and council’s refusal to take ‘green waste’. We should all remember that the council makes the
rules not the person who is trying to educate us on any change.
President’s report
Here is the presidents report for the April newsletter.
19 members went on the bus trip to Miranda Hot Springs. It rained most of the time yet did not deter our
enjoyment of the pools or the outing. We had fish and chips at the famous Kaiaua fish shop for lunch. At the
Miranda Shorebird Centre Keith Woodley gave us an informative and entertaining talk about wading birds.
The displays were professional with (taxidermy) birds to show us what they looked like.
Do come to our monthly meeting with your cheque book or money and an envelope. This means you are
able to be certain to get on any outings. Place your money or cheque in the envelope with your name,
amount enclosed, and the name of the outing you are booking for. A committee member, Barbara Field, will
register your booking.
Most positions on the committee can be handled by a number of committee members. The one position we
need another skilled person to aid us with is the treasurers position. Judy Foot would value aid for this
position. I will be greeting you this month and getting those who have not done so to write their ICE details
(in case of emergency) on the back of their name tags. Please put their name and relationship to you (son
/ neighbour) and the phone number. We can contact your loved ones beside 111 if there are any problems.
Regards from Margaret Noakes
Treasurer’s Report – April 2017
The end of the U3A financial year is June 2017, so subs are due from now for the 2017/18 year. These
were held at $30.00 pp at last year’s AGM. Please put in an envelope clearly marked SUBS and your
name. I would like to thank everyone for using an envelope when paying money, it certainly makes my job
so much easier.
Our funds are in a healthy state. The first trip to Miranda used some of our bus grant money.
If I am not at the meeting to take any payments, Anne Trevena will collect it on my behalf.
Judy Foot, Treasurer.
Newsletter Editor
Please could you send information to Carole on after your meetings?
Any Photos will be at the end of the newsletter.
Classical Music Appreciation – 2nd Friday – 2pm Convener Music Appreciation Report
Our March meeting was held at Margaret and Richard Noakes's house. Our topic was Counterpoint and
the Fugue. It is hard to write a beautiful melody. It is even harder to write several individually beautiful
melodies that when played simultaneously sound as a more beautiful polyphonic whole. That is
counterpoint and the fugue is probably the most intricate example of counterpoint. When we think about
the fugue it is often hard to go past JS Bach, but many of the composers who followed him were also
experts at writing counterpoint and included fugues in symphonies and string quartets. We listened to the
great Toccata and Fugue in D minor of JS Bach and the first movement of Joseph Haydn's String Quartet
Op. 76 No 1, the opening movement of Beethoven's String Quartet No 14, in C sharp Minor. Op. 131, and
the final movement of Mozart's Symphony No 41, which all illustrated the fugue.
Next month our usual date is Good Friday so an alternative date is needed. The first Friday of April (7th)
was suggested but this is not now feasible, so the third Friday (21st) is being suggested. We will discuss
this at the monthly meeting. Rogan Falla
Discussion Group – 3rd Thursday at Acacia Court – 1.30 to 3pm
Report: Discussion Group Patricia Wilson Ph. 298 2638
Child abuse, This was discussed at some length and we thought that the Law did not have enough guide
lines for parents and the Police.
Raising the Retirement age, We had diverse opinions on this topic but we all agreed that we are
fortunate generation.
We then gave our (Grouse!!) of the week which was interesting to say the least.
Patricia.
Film Outing – 2nd Wednesday
Gardening Group – 2nd Thursday afternoon 1-30pm Conveners Les Grass and Margaret Noakes
Report Margaret Noakes.
March 9th twelve members went to Dale Harvey’s “Quarter Acre Paradise” in Mangere. John who deals to
the Floral Art section greeted us. We had a ramble through the gardens. Dale gave us a great talk on this
being natures culling period with the recent ghastly weather. Members were able to ask questions and we
learnt a lot with his understandable explanations of aspects of gardening such as the effect the moon has
on plant growth. I have sent an email thanking them and Dale replied, inviting us to join their free websites
with lots of advice about gardening. This visit was a worthwhile and satisfying adventure.
Margaret Noakes, co-convener.
.
April 13th meet at Margaret Noakes 1pm to share transport to the nursery at the Domain which organises
the Winter Gardens displays. We will park by the duck pond and walk a short distance to the nursery. Nick
will give us a tour and talk about the nursery. Wear sensible shoes as this is an old nursery and Nick is
also the OSH officer so he will be vigilant re taking care of us. We will leave the nursery about 3-30pm.
Social Lunch
Will be combined in April with a trip to Titirangi.
Mahjong – every Tuesday 1.15 to 3pm
Convener: Janice Smart
Cost $2-00 per person per session. Bring your own coffee mug. We meet at 1.15 p.m. on Tuesday each week
at the Papatoetoe Bowling Club. We welcome new members and are happy to teach anyone who would like
to learn the game of Mahjong. Contact Janice if you are interested.
Poetry Group – 3rd Friday 10-00am Convener – Pat Hamill
Pat Hamill 2789585
POETRY REPORT Friday 17th March Pat Hamill
We met at Margaret Noakes’ for a very interesting and entertaining morning of poetry and discussion. The chosen topic
was ballads and started with Don’s choice, The Nancy Bell, macabre but fun and then Elizabeth treated us to The
Bailiff’s Daughter by WS Gilbert. Brought back to earth by the story of Richard Grenville and The Revenge read by Sue,
followed by The Young Lochinvar, the story of the gallant young Knight, followed by another Scottish poem, The
Douglas Tragedy chosen by Margaret. Shirley introduced us to A E Housman’s The Carpenter’s Son and we finished
with the lovely Lady of Shallot read by Mavis. This selection caused lots of discussion of wildly diverse subjects.
Next Meeting April 21st at 10 am.
Topic - verse by WS Gilbert
Venue Sue Wharton’s 51A Fernaig St Papakura
Phone Sue Pat
Poetry Group 2- 4th Monday
Convener Janice Smart
On the fourth Monday in March Poetry 2. met and had a delightful time reading poetry and discussing
poetry.
Our next meeting will be on the 24th April New members are most welcome.
Thank you Janice
Readers’ Group – 3rd Wednesday – 1-30pm
Convener – Mary Benson –
Each member spoke about books they had read recently. They were mostly murders many with intriguing,
ingenious plots and thought provoking.
The authors covered were: Gerald Seymour, Ellis Peters, Charles Todd (who was highly recommended)
M.J.Carter, Val. MacDermid and Michael Connelly.
Kindest regards
Janice Smart
Tai Chi every Monday morning 9-30 to 10-30 except for school holidays Convener –Mavis Pile Tai
Chi meets every Monday at 09.30 –10.30am at Acacia Court, Kolmar Road
We will be continuing with the Tai Chi Group next year on Monday am, as usual. There is room for one or
two who would like to join as there is not a lot of room space.
Mavis.
Travel Group – 1st Monday of month at 1-00pm –Convener – Judy Foot –
REPORT
At the last meeting we discussed our program for the year. We are inquiring into the possibility of taking
day trips around Auckland with Brent from Scenic Tours. To be discussed at the April meeting.
Next meeting Monday 3rd April 1-30pm at 4 Seymour Ave. Judy Foot or please RSVP to
Les Gras will have photos of his Trip to Paris and Dubai. Judy
Trips for 2017
Trip to Titirangi 28 April
Leave at 9.30am from Acacia Court: return 3.00pm
The charge for the bus trip is $15.00 to be paid at the meeting on 5 April. Patricia has arranged for a wine
tasting at Artisan at $10.00 a head. If you are interested in that you can add that money to your envelope.
Please put your name and the amount you are paying on the envelope. The bus holds 25 people so first in
first served.
Programme for the day:
Drive to Titirangi. Visit Lopdell House, the gallery and museum and have coffee at the Deco café next door.
Go to the Packing Shed for lunch. Visit the curiosity shop and the Artisan winery. Return home
Lunch and morning tea is at your own cost.