U3A NETWORK CANTERBURY
NEWSLETTER #1 JUNE 2011
President
Lee Morgan
Vice-President
Liz Taylor
Vice-President
Jo Lord
The Canterbury earthquakes have made some very difficult times for everyone in Canterbury and our U3A
groups. We have had many email messages of support from within New Zealand: namely Nelson U3A,
Tauranga U3A, Auckland U3A, Remuera U3A, Papatoetoe U3A, Wellington U3A, and our close friends in
Timaru U3A. And from Australia: U3A Sydney, U3A Illawarra, Melbourne and the U3A Australian
Networks. We note that many/most of the groups are working now in different premises and congratulate
them on their ingenuity, hard work, and support of one another in reviving members’ spirits and helping in
any way they can.
Special offer from Nelson U3A
Nelson U3A is very keen to show their support in a special practical way and are suggesting a three/four
day break in Nelson for a group of Canterbury U3Aers. This is open to all and not limited to any one group
or network members, but it is limited to U3A members. I will arrange to send all U3A Presidents and
Secretaries the Nelson offer by way of a pamphlet written up by U3A Nelson. In order to keep it simple –
an email address will be printed for individual people to respond to (you must respond by email –or ask a
friend to email it for you if you are not on the net). From that point the arrangements will be between the
“offerer” (the individual Nelson U3A member) and the “acceptor” (the individual Canterbury U3A
members). Please note, Canterbury Network and/or U3As presidents here in Christchurch will not be doing
the organizing.
REPORT FOR U3A NETWORK CANTERBURY
NEW SOUTH WALES NETWORK CONFERENCE 28th APRIL 2011
With the title: “The Future in Mind”, the conference was held on 28 April 2011 in Sydney. The Lord
Mayor of Sydney hosted the committee and special visitors on the evening 27th April and the official
opening was given by the Director of City Culture and Community, City of Sydney.
Dr Barry Jones AO (a living treasure) was the opening speaker – ”Lifelong Learning in an Ageing
Society” – Present Chair of Commission on Book Strategy.
Worked with Peter Lazlett (“A Fresh Look at Life”, principles of U3A) and Lord Michael Young,
(significant in creating the Open University)
Experiencing changing demographics (most countries)
Australian statistics 1910 -2010 life expectancy increased by 25years – a straight lineup. In Japan
they have the longest-lived, but it hasn’t leveled off even with increased stress, high density living, but
healthy diet. Greek life expectancy is up.
A curious stage – what about the next generation? Literature shows extraordinarily high number of
young people who are obese, addicted to binge drinking. Possibly this group is not so tough or resilient, ie
high risk life styles.
Significant increase in deaths in the 16-25 age group.
Huge importance of creativity. Stated throughout the conference by speakers.
Examples of increased ageing: Ministers, Gough Whitlam 95. In the Frazer government, out of 35
there is excess of 20 still alive. In the Hawke government, out of 63 members only 4 have died. Quote:
Sir Michael Marmot, (Chair in Public Health University of London 1983-1994), “Real factor in determining
health – getting one’s head straight, feeling I’ve done something worthwhile.”
President of the British Medical Association said if he had to pick a single determinant
for
successful adults, ‘if the parents read to them every day!’ Being comfortable with books.
During the Whitlam years, much talk about art, creativity,
etc…now the word has dropped out – not an isolated phenomenon.
Universities involved in training economies, but history, music, art faculties are not being endowed.
Concern some major politicians have never read any of the classics, not even books on economics!
Tremendous amount of money spent on those in the 4th Age (very high cost of
medical care for
2% of the population.)
His advice: Spend more time in the Third Age and less in the Fourth Age!
Professor Julie Byles, Director of the Research Centre for Gender, Health and Ageing, University of
Newcastle: ‘Gender and Ageing”
Professor Byles interviewed ‘the aged’, and ‘prospective’ baby boomers:
Older people feel stereotyped as ‘frail, forgetful, getting older, devalued (all over 60s).
Prejudice
against ‘the aged’ that they are wealthy, but a burden, taxes etc.
They are wealthy, healthy (and smug!). Grow out of being young, but do not grow out of being old.
Baby Boomers consider, older people are blowing the budget, selfish consumers, ‘me’ first,
spending their life savings, a burden on taxpayers, living too long, had free education, they own their own
homes and we can’t afford to, they’ll get decrepit – and we will have to pay.
Other statistics quoted, gender, different lifestyles, etc. However, Professor Byles states ‘age is not
the dominant status and should not be the only factor that drives policy or practice in relation to older
people’.
Mr Bob Ellis, well known political commentator and author, wrote and read his lengthy
epic: “Age No Barrier – Remember Sophocles”. Wonderfully elegant (most of the time) and
enthusiastically received elegy. I cannot do it justice here, except to say how much I enjoyed it and hope
that some may one day hear it recited verbatim. If you do, brush up on the background of Australian
politics to get the most out of it. Highly entertaining!
Report on Asia –Pacific Alliance - Di Delchau from U3A On-line representing Australia U3AAA
U3A Has Talent:
We had an hour of poetry reading, musical presentations including ukulele, flutes and splendid cameos
by comedians performing their own ‘one man’ shows.
This was the informal part of the conference and like all informal gatherings there was much fun, chatter,
sharing of ideas, contact details, food and a sing-song finale! There were about four visitors from NZ, but
plenty of space for us next time!
Finally, the formal part. I was invited and attended the NSW Network AGM. Before the Conference,
NSW hosted the U3AAA – the combined network of Australia. It was the first time all states were
represented. What a magnificent tribute to the organizers and the working Committee headed by Dr Ron
Browne (Chair). You will remember that
Ron and his wife, Ainslie Lamb, were here last year specifically to support U3A Network Canterbury and to
discuss a NZ wide U3A network. Ainslie’s work is immense.
Side bits: I was invited to attend any meetings of the U3A Sydney (5,500members) – all I had to do was
phone the convener. I spent some hours with the Vice-President Sydney,
looking at website development, structure of their membership, network structure, etc. I was invited to
Wollongong, Southern Illawarra, to attend their weekly meeting/lecture and interest groups after their
meeting. The following week I was asked to give a 20min ‘talk’ on travel to NZ! I quickly prepared a
power point presentation – however, all the questions and queries were about - the earthquake!
I sincerely thank the U3A Network council who supported this conference trip and I am pleased to table this
report.
Lee Morgan
Chair U3A Network Canterbury