U3A Adelaide Hills

What a treat for the last day for 2023 Wednesday Wetland Walkers group.
4 black swans preening themselves !

The French4Fun last lesson for the year was a shared lunch hosted in the beautiful garden of one of the members. The singing of French Carols was definitely helped by the excellent French rosé used to lubricate our voices. (Jan - F4F presenter)

After two weeks the baby white faced heron is still watching everyone arrive at Laratinga Wetlands. It is in a tree now and happy to be photographed. (Sorry about the bad photo)

GUIDED TOURS of the ART GALLERY (November visit) A diverse collection of contemporary portraits by SA's Vincent Namatjura, pottery by NT's Hermannsburg Potters, SA's Tiger Yaltangki portraits expressing his love of AC/DC music, NT's Djakanju Yunupingu sister to Yothu Yindi's Gurrumul, totem poles that were originally tree trunks hollowed by termites, painted with brushes made of human hair dipped in burnt natural clays & celebratory dancing sticks from WA decorated with Pilbara grasses.
Many thanks to the brilliant AGSA volunteer guides who brought the works to life with stories every month. 👏
Cheryl Oliver (Organiser)

We love recycling. Cards made from postcards and cards. A challenge but worth the time and effort.

A baby White Faced Heron was looking sad. It was a constant distraction, sitting for numerous photos. Wednesday Wetland Walkers are seeing many young birds - Laratinga Wetlands is having a baby boon!

Yesterday a visit to Gamble Cottage in Blackwood, managed by lovely and passionate National Trust volunteers.
We went to see the historic house, but I think the amazing morning tea and beautiful gardens ended up being the highlights.
The house, built mainly from local sandstone, was built in 1902 and is beautifully maintained by the volunteers.
The cottage is open to the public on the 3rd Sunday of the month between 1 -4pm ( except Jul, Aug, Dec and Jan) Afternoon tea and plant sales available.

On 20 Oct a group visited Christie Walk - Eco Village in Sturt St. The village includes apartments, townhouses and two individual houses with community gardens, workshed, laundry and activity room all set in the space of three suburban houses.
Thank you to Susan for arranging the morning and introducing us to an alternative to individual houses and gardens.

Our U3A Strathalbyn friends are hosting a “Community Bush Dance” on Saturday 4 November at the Strathalbyn Show Hall! Phone 0423 138 311 for more information.

This morning, Anita Podder treated us to a beautifully illustrated talk about one of her garden loves - Crocusses! A few of us are thinking about starting a mini (very mini!) Cottage industry in saffron! Apparently, Crocus Sativus (the main crocus harvested for her expensive orange stigmas) likes cold. Ideal for our gardens! A very pleasant and informative morning. Thanks Anita!

Mark Randell's ongoing commitment to U3A Adelaide Hills for almost two decades was recognised at the recent AGM. Mark, known for his many wonderful and well-researched presentations on a broad range of topics, also served on the Committee including that of filling the role of Chair for four years and that of Public Officer. He also started our first ukulele group, acted as presenter and organiser for numerous courses, even adding 'tour guide' to his repertoire and was often invited to present at other organisations, including other U3As.
Congratulations Mark - and thank you! 👏

GUIDED TOURS of the ART GALLERY - 25th September
Today's visit was titled "Misty Mountain, Shining Moon".
A showcase of Japanese Landscape, incorporating wall hangings, sculptures, wood carvings & wooden block prints with austere brush & ink techniques, pottery and paper screens using gold leaf inserts. Mt Fuji was represented many times showcasing the scenic beauty of the archipelago & various deities dating back to 16th century.
Cheryl Oliver (Organiser)

Our mid-year Thank You Lunch, held on Bastille Day once again, was thoroughly enjoyed by 85 members and deemed a great success, with those present enthusiastically expressing their appreciation to all course Presenters and Organisers. 👏
A special treat was entertainment by members of both French language courses, brilliantly accompanied by Dora on the accordion - all impressively attired and wielding baguettes no less! 👏
Thank you everyone - a beautiful way to spend a chilly mid-winter afternoon.

This is what happens to an old calendar, a 53rd wedding anniversary and a few sheep, craft punches and a group who just followed their sense of humor, and have watched 'Sean the Sheep'. Very enjoyable and helping each other.

Guided Tours of the Art Gallery - Milton Moon's ceramic collection titled "Crafting Modernism" was on display. The artist lived in Summertown for many years before his death in 2019.

"Crafting Modernism explores the life and career of Milton Moon am (1926–2019), one of the most important Australian potters of the twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. A pioneer of the modernist approach to ceramics in the postwar period, Moon had an enormous impact on Australian art and craft throughout his career as both an artist and educator." www.agsa.sa.gov.au

When our Mah Jong friends all the way from Kangarilla come to join us for a game in Stirling... we start with lunch!
Then a great game, lovely to catch up with old friends.

Totally absorbed group at today's Painting & Drawing session in Bridgewater ..... but still room for the mandatory chatter and laughter!

And this afternoon a very entertaining presentation by one of our friends from the Inner North U3A, Chris Jordison. Sunny African puctures very much enjoyed by the Hills Travel group on such a cold afternoon. Chris gave a detailed travelogue on his visit to central Africa and his climb of Mount Kilimanjaro. We now know what it takes to get there! Thanks for coming up "our" Hill, Chris!

Nick Collins, Secretary of the Australian Carnivorous Plant Society, treated the D.I.G garden group to a fascinating glimpse into the carnivorous plant world this morning.

We learned a lot about these clever plants, some quite beautiful, some very inconspicuous. Even some Adelaide Hills natives amongst them! Great presentation, thanks Nick !

This photo is the right one, showing the two great old gum trees.

The weather was chilly, the path muddy, and only two of us were Wednesday Wetland Walkers. The water birds were everywhere and this pair shone. The back drop of one ancient gum holding up another, as it spaned the creek, provided a backdrop that invokes stories of past people who have travelled this way.

A lovely lunch at Karkoo in Oakbank. Great company and conversation.

Valerie's Centrepiece featuring a beautifully colourful coronation theme for her first Crafers U3A Circle Dancing group on Thursday. Great set of relevant dances too, thank you Valerie!

CRAFERS CIRCLE DANCING CELEBRATION. Last Thursday members of the Crafers group celebrated Lyn's well-deserved retirement after leading circle dancing in the Hills for ten years - a much appreciated weekly commitment. Gloria's contribution to the success of the group, in her role of organiser extraordinaire, was also recognised and Marjolijn added to the event with a flute solo. Lyn 'passed the baton' (literally) to Valerie who has generously agreed to add leading the Crafers group on Thursdays to her Tuesday commitment in Mount Barker. Thank you Lyn and the very best wishes.

A celebration of the moon! Close to the Easter full moon Mount Barker circle dancers, led by Valerie and Anneke, celebrated with a range of beautiful moon-themed dances and music. Once again, Sandy’s gorgeous centre piece set the scene. The Easter Bunny even made an appearance! Another uplifting morning with a group of great people.

'Pointer at Sunset' by Maude Earl c. 1900. Maude signed the painting after it won a national competition, as only men were really considered to be artists. Her father and uncle were both well-known artists. Queen Victoria acquired her paintings. This painting stands over the fire place, in the dog themed room, at Femroy House, David Roche Museum.

More photos from David Roche Museum

The David Roche Gallery had the Australian Portrait Exhibition, and here are a few pictures. Many were to do with 'lock down'.

Visit to David Roche Museum was amazing. With about 3500 items on display, the choices were limitless. A Spode dog bowl, King George IV gift of a bed to his daughter Charlotte and Leopold (Prince Albert's uncle), Napolean's chest with bees on it, the Hanoverian clock with a tiny clock face, The elephant with unusual feet and tail, the wooden table made from pieces of wood of all the countries Captain Cook visited, and a piece of the Endeavor in the middle, the stool that people knelt on before the Queen to receive an honor, the tall glass vase that the Russians would like to be lent as it is the only complete one of its type in the world. The dog pictures - the impossible one of many different terriers standing still (ha ha), pugs with old style noses that don't limit breathing, the beautiful painting of a pointer that won an exhibition and then the artist signed - a woman who dared to paint! Bathrooms that were exhibition spaces. His mother's bedroom, the hand sewn silk curtains, the kitchen from years ago. A wonderful gift to South Australia from a very individual man. Thank you David,

GUIDED TOURS of the ART GALLERY. Our guides Diana & Brian explained the recent acquisitions under the title of "Be wilderness”, a work of the mind using imagination entwined with geography, history, nationhood & landscape.
The pink bust cast in bronze is a perverse reversal usually of significant white middle class males as seen on North Terrace. It looked like pink cake icing &plasticine, very tactile.
A moving video & photographic study by Hoda Afshar born in Iran, now living in Australia depicted the sadness & beauty of forgotten refugees on Manus Island. It reminded us of the beauty of the landscape but also human despair.
Adelaide's Annabelle Collett ( ex Currency Creek) reminded us of recycling the proliferation of single use plastics. Her female forms represented fashion & textiles.
A favourite was "Soaring Eagles" an Indian work by Balu Jivya Mashe. Women paint their mud walls homes with a rice paste & cow dung similar to Australian cave & rock art paintings. Stunning fine brush strokes of eagles circling.
Our next visit 24 April - Andy Warhol.

Cards over until May - love the individuality. Jutta likes dressing her ones up. Di is so precise and results are great. Susan is very independent and Sandra works hard. Enlarge the photos to admire this creative group. Thanks for coming.

At the Mandala workshop a 'Love and Healing Mandala' was made by us all at the studio of Myriam at Crafers. Relaxing venue, lovely morning tea and a supporting and gentle teacher . Thank you.

The U3A-AH folk music group left their comfy rehearsal space to find a much desired percussionist, a highly regarded tin whistle player and any other folk instrumentalists looking for nice people to join ...!
We rehearse at St Paul's community room in Hahndorf every Monday morning 9:30 -11:30 (except school/public holidays and today 27/3, sorry!), please pop in when you'd like to come and listen or join in!

Great travel talk on Switzerland. Time to remember 1957 and the gift of this book. Well worth a read but keep your tissues near by!

Enjoying a lovely talk by David Dowley about "Living in a Swiss Village". What an adventure!!

It's an upside down world at the Uradlia Hotel, from the chairs to the old saucepan stand ( mine has pots of succelants , so who am I to comment on upside down ones!). Good company and meals - thanks Margo for organising the 'Come Lunch With Me' group 2. More interesting places and food in a fortnight.

Collar cards for ' he or she' and ' whirly gigs' were the order of the day. Members choosing colours and helping each other. An enjoyable card making session.