JABBER JOURNALJABBER JOURNALGrafton U3A Inc. (University of the Third Age)

PO Box 688 Grafton NSW 2460www.grafton.u3anet.org.au

“Sharing our knowledge, skills and experience in a friendly convivial way”

AUGUST 2014

As advised last month our 12th Annual General Meeting of Grafton U3A will be held in conjunction with August

Jabberfest. This meeting is important to all members as it provides an opportunity to welcome our new Executive and Committee, review activities of the past year and make recommendations to the incoming Committee. Please note that only financial members are entitled to vote at the Annual General Meeting. For those who have not yet renewed their subscriptions, the Treasurer will be on hand from around 9.30am to accommodate you.

August Jabberfest will also include a Girls Woodwork group DVD presentation as well as an entertaining quiz (including a prize) prepared by resident quizmaster David Abrahams and a performance by our own Good Vibes. Please note that there will be no entry charge for August Jabberfest as it is our annual general meeting. Do come along for a wonderful morning of entertainment.

Thought for the day“Stop worrying about the potholes in the road and

enjoy the journey”

IN THIS ISSUE August Jabberfest Thought for the dayFrom the President’s desk July Jabberfest wrap Thank you Maureen

Courses and Interest Groups update Morning tea roster New member updateComputers for sale Norfolk Island U3A Gems for Enquiring minds

Editor contact Closing date

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JABBERFEST * 10.00AM 11 AUGUST

GIRLS WOODWORKING GROUP DVD * ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING ENTERTAINING QUIZ * GOOD VIBES PERFORMANCE

GRAFTON COMMUNITY CENTRE – DUKE STREET GRAFTON

FROM THE PRESIDENT’S DESK After spending almost a month in Townsville and points further north, I am back to the ‘real’ winter. The temperature in Townsville was around 26 every day with nights down to around 15. I can now fully understand why the winter is called the time for the ‘grey nomads’ to travel north in their caravans. I hear that temperatures were severe here during early July so I am glad to have missed it. North Queensland is certainly as beautiful as people say with lovely beaches and beachside towns and villages. I also visited the Atherton Tablelands, which was much cooler and fascinating with the oldest rainforest in the world – something I didn’t know until being told during a tour. So back to reality and back to enjoying all that U3A has to offer all of us. Many thanks to Dennis Kelly and David Abrahams who kept the flag flying at July Jabberfest and Committee meetings respectively during my absence. Hope to see you all at August Jabberfest.

Maree Burrows

JULY JABBERFEST WRAPThe July Jabberfest opened with a welcome to guest speaker Anne Judd and new members Susan Hereford Ashley and Shirley Grimston. News from the Armchair Travel, Bushwalking, Canasta and Friday mini-concerts groups was provided before Nancy Eggins updated members on current projects being undertaken in the newly formed History Club and Don McLeod of the Computer group detailed a new course for tablet users commencing 15 July. Members were informed that course DVDs are available for loan through Alysan Pender. Members congratulated Beatrice Taminiau who recently celebrated her 90th birthday.Guest speaker Anne Judd, clinical nurse specialist in organ donation for the mid North Coast, was introduced to the audience and provided a very informative and interesting presentation on the topic – “Organ and Tissue Donation – Discover the facts”. Anne explained that almost anyone can become a donor irrespective of age and listed the organs and tissue that can be donated. She also explained the myths and misconceptions of organ and tissue donation as well as the process of registering and informing family members of your intentions. The aim of the scheme can be summarised as follows:

Discover the facts about organ and tissue donation

Decide and register your donation decision

Discuss your decision with those close to you

Following her presentation Anne fielded several questions from the floor before being thanked for her presentation and presented with a creative timber piece created by the artisans from the Mens Shed. The August door prize, a crafted timber bowl was presented to Lauri Pulkkinen. The next meeting - 10am on 11 August 2014 at Grafton Community Centre.

THANK YOU MAUREENAfter ten years as Coordinator of the Book Discussion group, Maureen Stanford has decided to step down for medical reasons. Maureen, who until recently also conducted the monthly Armchair Travel group, has been a wonderful asset for U3A and her ‘pupils’ have enjoyed great fellowship and the joy of reading and discussing what they have read. Maureen will be greatly missed. On behalf of myself, the Committee, Book Discussion group members and I am sure many others, I wish to say a huge THANK YOU for a great effort and a job well done.

Maree Burrows

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COURSES AND INTEREST GROUPS UPDATEARMCHAIR TRAVEL

Our next meeting will be 26 August and Magda Mussared will be presenting Part 3 of her trip to Britain and Shirley Tees will show photos of her trip to China. Peter Smyth 6642 1692.

BUSHWALKINGCoast walkingWe set out with the happy hopefulness of anticipated pleasure. We were not disappointed. Perfect day, splendid landscape, breaching whales, birds in abundance - no wonder our 17 walkers smiled throughout this short stroll of a mere 6 kilometres! Diggers Beach was our starting point as the kookaburras laughed us off. Meanwhile drunken lorikeets, gorged on nectar from the flowering banksias floundered blindly from tree to tree. After climbing up to Macauleys Headland, we had grand views over Coffs, Muttonbird Island and into the southern distance. As a food source with birds and eggs and as a place of special significance in the stories of the Gumbaingirr people, Muttonbird Island mattered greatly to them - still does. The Garby Elders represent the traditional owners in whose country we walk today. We acknowledge them and pay our respects. Once a small ship, the Endeavour, sailed past. Were those who sighted it "alert and alarmed"? They should have been as illegal boat people were following in their hundreds of thousands.

Heading north now we tramped along delightful Diggers Beach, crossed the stream and climbed up through littoral rainforest to Diggers Headland, taking the track to the point. On cue, whales breached and displayed unaware of our applause while in the forest behind whip birds gave their cracking call. Unfortunately, at Charlesworth Bay the museum was closed so we continued to Kororo before turning back to lunch and Diggers Beach, sighting more birds along the way. These included the whip birds we had been constantly hearing and the incredibly flamboyant Pitta with its feathers of many colours.To the east are the Solitary Islands with the lighthouse on South Solitary rising from the waters of the Tasman Sea with its fluidity, brightness, largeness and continuity. Beneath the surface diverse and abundant life forms swim, tumble, rumble, feed and breed. As I paddled in the surprisingly warm water along Diggers Beach and listened to the never ending song of the surf, I thought gratefully of the efforts from Coffs Council and National Parks, which had resulted in the construction of this beautiful Solitary Islands Coastal Walk stretching from Sawtell to Red Rock. There it meets the Yuraygir Walk through Yaegl Country to Yamba. How fortunate we are to be here this glorious day. Barbara Fahey Next walk 4th Monday in August – destination undecided as yet.

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A likely tail Pitta bird

Solitary Islands

MORNING TEA ROSTER11 Aug Helen Daniels Gwen Patricks Ann Pulkkinen8 Sept Margaret Lee Brian & Joan Carter

Our sincere thanks to our morning tea volunteers.

NEW MEMBER UPDATEWe welcome new members – Shirley Grimston and Vince Grace. We trust that you enjoy your association with Grafton U3A and avail of the courses/interest groups available.

COMPUTERS FOR SALEWe are upgrading our operations at Dougherty House and no longer require the existing desktop computers and offer them for sale to members. All are in operating order and ready to go.

BOX – MONITOR – KEYBOARD – MOUSE AND CABLES

FOUR ONLY AT $20 EACH (ONE ONLY PER MEMBER)

ALSO ONE CANON PRINTER IN EXCELLENT ORDER FOR $30 TO BE PICKED UP AT ROOMS BY ARRANGEMENT

CALL DAVID ABRAHAMS 0407413813

FIRST IN – BEST DRESSED

NORFOLK ISLAND U3ANorfolk Island U3A, which has been incorporated for only twelve months has invited Grafton U3A members to join them in celebrating several cultural events including Thanksgiving Day, First Fleet celebrations 225th anniversary, celebration of the wrecking of HMS Sirius and also Bounty Day. As well as the cultural events, history and language, there is also an opportunity to participate in local U3A activities and to meet U3A members. Enquiries can be made through Norfolk Island Travel Centre website:

https://www.norfolkislandtravelcentre.com/?s=u3a

GEMS FOR ENQUIRING MINDSOsteoporosis occurs most commonly in older people, especially older women. Because the bone loss occurs without symptoms, osteoporosis is often called a "silent" disease. But see what may be a warning sign for osteoporosis.

Six out of every 10 falls happen at home, but many falls could be prevented by making simple changes in your living areas, like improving lighting.

Speed-Read Web Pages At 650 Words Per Minute. Squirt works by showing you the text one word at a time, so that you can read without needing to move your head or eyes. Colour-coding of one letter in the word, and clever positioning, helps ensure that you stay focussed and attentive.

Windows Live Update Virus warnings are hoaxes which have been circulating for years. Read here if you need more detail (Thanks David Wilson, Australia)

Thinking of getting an eBook? Kindle, Nook, Kobo ...hmmm. Here's a review of the top 5 to help you choose

CLOSING DATE – EDITOR CONTACTContributions to the Jabber Journal are always welcome. We reserve the right to edit material submitted for publication. Closing date for the September edition is Monday 25 August 2014.

Editor: Dennis Kelly thehifields@bigpond.com

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