MANUREWA U3A
NEWSLETTER: MARCH/APRIL 2017
President
Pat James
NEXT MEETING: MONDAY, 10th APRIL 2017
AT ACACIA COVE RETIREMENT VILLAGE at 1.30pm
Secretary
Treasurer
Warwick May
Lorraine Butcher
Newsletter Editor: Doreen Lightfoot – [email protected]
Message from Pat:
Another excellent speaker; thanks again Phil. I’m not sure I liked the insights into my personality but it was
thought provoking! Thanks also to Nolare for her interesting 10 minute talk and Jan will talk to us at our
next meeting so lots to look forward to.
OUR SPEAKER is Guy Clapshaw. He grew up in England, flew warplanes in the RAF and then became
an airline pilot for Air New Zealand. Guy has written several books and has some great stories to tell.
Host Group: Music
LAST MEETING
Pat opened the meeting and welcomed everyone with a special welcome for visitors.
Phil introduced MIKE MARAN who is a professional graphologist, or handwriting expert. He is called
upon to verify if handwriting/a signature is genuine or a forgery, and can also assess someone`s personality
by their handwriting.
Mike Maran is one of only 2 certified Handwriting and Document Examiners in New Zealand. There are no
training courses in this country so he did his training by correspondence and visiting the USA. He explained
that everybody’s writing is different and changes as we age and unlocks the human personality. Analysis is
done on unlined paper on a hard surface with a ball point pen. The analyst will look at the slant, size, and
angle of lines, pen pressure and loops. There are 50 ways to cross a ‘t’ stem. Small writing can show
attention to detail and can be secretive while large writing can show that person likes to be the centre of
attention.
We were asked to sign our signatures and pass them to our neighbour then Mark gave clues to our
personalities! Much of Mark’s work is looking at forged signatures often from new migrants involving Will
disputes. He also authenticates signatures on paintings and compares ‘known’ signatures against
‘questioned’ signatures. Mark says that handwriting comes from the brain not the hand and says that this
has been proved by Foot and Mouth artists.
Thanks to Mike Maran for giving us an insight as to just how much of our personality can be read from just
our signatures. And the fact that our handwriting is controlled by our brains. A most interesting talk and
gave us all food for thought.
10 Minutes talk by Nolarae
Nolarae lived in Nuie for 2 years and described her journey to get there. She told us about the ex-pat
community who had a Country Club and a 9 hole Golf Club. Nolarae was involved with the local Teacher’s
College and taught English and Health amongst other subjects. She told us about the arrangements and
damage caused by a hurricane. Nolarae wrote a Children’s’ page and Woman’s page for the local paper,
compiled the crossword and drew cartoons.
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U3A newsletter March - April 2017 web
GROUP REPORTS
HISTORY PEOPLE AND PLACES
Convenor: Joan Newson
Report from February 21st. Ten were present with an apology from Helen.
Our topics were: Norman Lindsay, Australian, artist, sculptor, writer and writing and illustrating children’s
books. Mrs Beeton, author of Mrs Beeton’s Book of Household Management. Robert Blake, pirate of the
Caribbean, 1550s. The incredible Mr Grant, Dunedin. The History Earl Grey and his tea empires. The Goa
Rowte - The Vicuna Coat. The New Zealand Dairy. Foundling Babies and how they were cared for in 1198
to present day.
Next meeting will be on Tuesday 21st March at 1.30pm at Joan's place.
CARD AND BOARD GAMES
Convenors:
Val Marris, Bev Stehlin
Report from:
16th Feb: met at Bev’s place and 4 played rumikub and 2 played scrabble.
3rd March: we had 6 present and 4 played rumikub and 2 upwords.
Next day is at Bev’s Thursday 16th March.
If anyone would like to join our groups please ring us.
BOOK REVIEW next meeting Tuesday 4th April 10am – 12pm
Convenor : Dorothy Pinner
Report from 7th March
We had another interesting and contrasting selection of books this month, both fiction and non-fiction.
There were mysteries and suspense novels, by Patricia Cornwell, Jonathan Kellerman and Liane Moriaty.
There were historical novels by Conn Iggulden about the life of Julius Caesar. These showed much of the
brutality of life in the Roman empire in those days, on contrast to what we often see depicted in modern
films.
‘Southern Ruby’ by Belinda Alexandra is another well written story of a young woman who travelled to New
Orleans in search of family members that she had never known. While there she learns of the difficulties of
integration of black children into white schools. Then even worse came Hurricane Katrina with all its
devastation.
We had two non-fiction books, the first was, ‘In Sickness in Health and in Jail’ by El Jacob. This tells of a
man in jail because of his own carelessness and the effect on his wife and family. It also shows what
conditions are truly like in Australian jails – filth, drugs, etc.
Our top rated book was ‘Paracuellos’ or, ‘The defeated children of Spain’, by Carlos Gilmenez, a highly
gifted artist. This is a graphic novel, a genre fairly new to some of us. It tells of the fate of the thousands of
orphaned children in Spain during and after the civil war. Social Aid ‘Homes’ were set up to look after
children and make them into, ‘good little Spaniards’. Actually they suffered terrible physical and mental
abuse. It is worth remembering the adage that those who forget the past are condemned to repeat it. Carlos
Giminez didn’t want to forget and hopes that others will remember to.
CURRENT AFFAIRS next meeting Monday 17th April 2pm at Jan and Warwick's place.
Convenors: Jan and Warwick May
Report from 20th February 2017.
Once again the group had lively discussion on a wide range of topics, including:- The new continent,
celebrants, cannabis use and misuse, ‘How did we get into this mess?”, Chinese immigrant parents, and, Paul
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Buchanan. But, because so many of last month’s topics tended to be negative, Dorothy introduced “Positive
thoughts.” It took her a while to find some at first, but gradually the list grew. The ones I remember were:
1. The improved situation in Aleppo, 2. New Zealand named as one of the least corrupt countries in the
world, and 3. Waitangi/NZ Day in Alexandra was a time for many cultures to be on show.
So come along next Monday and test just how positive we can be.
Jan May.
STAGE AND SCREEN next meeting 24th April, 1.30pm at Janice's.
Convenor: Janice Orange
Report from 27th February – 5 members present.
Items discussed: Theatre ‘Mikado – NZ Opera Company, Concerts: NZ Royal NZ Navy Band, NZ Male
Choir with Sweet Adelines, Exhibitions: Maori Portraits, Lindauer. Best Films: ‘Lion’ and ‘Hidden
Figures’ – both rated 4 ½ . The Bright Stream – live from the Bolshoi Ballet.
POETS CORNER next meeting 21st April 10am at Helen's place Theme: ??
The next meeting would be Good Friday 14th April, and the group is keen to have it on Friday 21st
April. Meeting and will hopefully be at Helen’s place next time.
Convenor: Helen Gallot
Report from 10th March Given by Joan Newson as meeting was held at her place this month as Helen
was in hospital. There were 11 present and one apology, - Helen.
Subject Transport: Cargoes – John Masefield. (Pat). Johnny Fyfe and Johnnie’s wife, Skimble Shanks the
Railway Cat, On the Night Train – Henry Lawson, High Flight (a poem written by a young Canadian pilot
in ?WW2, often quoted at funerals, Stone Age Woe (Fred Flintstone Car), The Transport of Delight,
Mulga Bills Bicycle. David read: ‘Transport of Delight’ by Flanders and Swann.
MUSIC APPRECIATION next meeting, Friday, 28th April, 2 to 4pm at Simon and Pat James'
place. Theme will be
Convenor: Simon James
Report from Friday 27th February 2017, Theme Love
We had a different sort of programme in February when we explored the topic of LOVE!
There were 17 love-struck members present and we listened to a variety of music starting with the famous
Love Duet from the Pearl Fishers and ending with Peter Sellers and Sophia Loren singing ‘Goodness
Gracious Me’ with just about every other genre represented in between. Particular favourites were ‘What is
Life without You’ sung by the incomparable Kathleen Ferrrier and ‘The Stars are Shining’ from Tosca.
‘Tiree Love Song’ sung by the Corries was somewhat different as was Patsy Cline singing ‘Crazy’.
As Simon is incapacitated at the moment, David and Dorothy have offered to put together the programme for
March which will be ‘Comedy’. The meeting will be at our house at 2pm on 24th March.
MAH JONG next meeting Tues 4th April at Lorraine's place.
Convenor Lorraine Butcher
Report from meeting Tues 7th March
We are becoming more adventuresome in our games, Wendy won a game playing Ying Yang, a double
point game – very difficult
 Mah Jong is played with 4 people, designated as East, South, West and North. Note that the customary
Chinese listing is not the same as for the compass. The 1 st player, the dealer is always East, to the right
is South, across is West and on the dealer’s left is North.
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 A Mah Jong set is made up of 144 pieces known as TILES. These are divided into sections,
DRAGONS, WINDS and SUITS.
 Four Red Dragons, four Green Dragons and four White Dragons.
 Four East Winds, four South Winds, four West Winds and four North Winds.
 There are 36 character Tiles, 36 Circle Tiles and 35 Bamboo Tiles.
 The balance is 8 Tiles known as FLOWERS and SEASONS. Sounds complicated, but is fun.
EXPLORING ART : The next meeting is on Tuesday, 11th April - 2pm – 4pm at Lorraine’s place.
Convenor: Lorraine Butcher
Almoner: Patricia is our Almoner. Please contact her if you know of any member who is sick, in
hospital, or in need in any way. Ring 2996875
COMING EVENTS: CORRECTION: Please note that U3A in Action, will be held on the Friday 29th
September, not 29th July as was stated in last newsletter, February/March.
Coming Events: U3A in Action, Friday 29th September 2017 St Chads, Meadow bank.
The Auckland U3A Network will hold a one-day event, similar to the Jubilee event held in 2014. There
will be a guest speaker and mini-talks from members of some of the branches.
MONDAY
st
1 Week
2nd Week
General Meeting
1.30pm
3rd Week
Current Affairs
2.00pm
4th Week
Stage and Screen
1.30pm
TUESDAY
Book review
10am - 12pm
Mah Jong
2pm-4pm
Exploring Art
2pm – 4pm
History and Places
1.30pm
Mah Jong 2-4pm
ANZAC DAY
WED
THURSDAY
Board and Card
Games 1.30pm
Board and Card
Games 1.30pm
FRIDAY
Poets’ Corner
10am – 12pm
(Good Friday)
For April only
Poets Corner
10 – 12pm
Music
Appreciation
2-4pm
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