Leader: Gloria Jones
1. Enrol in this course through NU3A.
2. Subscribe and pay directly through the theatre (phone the Box Office 4952 4958 Mondays to Fridays or email newrep@bigpond.net.au ). Make sure you specify that you are part of the Newcastle U3A group and would like to attend the first Sunday matinee of each show in the subscription series. Alternatively, book online, which gives you the ability to choose your own seat.
Book the season or seasons or book as few or as many shows that interest you.If you do not complete one of these booking options, you will not have a ticket!
3. Put the performance dates in your diary.
4. If you can’t make a particular matinee, contact the theatre to change to an alternative performance. Make sure you provide plenty of notice.
5. Be aware that many of the group meet up in the lobby prior to the start of the show for a chat.
Concession subscriptions are 6 shows for $192 and 7 for $217. Individual shows are $35 (concession).
Please check the theatre website for details of each performance.

Julie Keating - Sunday walk               

Before construction of the Obelisk, the government flour mill was on this site. Its rotating arms were a marker for mariners sailing up the coast from Sydney. When it was demolished, there was an outcry from mariners and the government responded by building the Obelisk. Another maritime marker still standing is one of the lead lights at the corner of Brown and Tyrrell streets. The area has a number of prestigious, residential properties, especially the former homes of John & Jospeh Wood, owners of the Castlemaine franchise brewery. Meeting point is at the intersection of Wolfe and Ordnance Streets, BELOW The Obelisk. Climbing steep terrain will be kept to a minimum.

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Leader : Kathy Langlade
The Brain Wave workshop is an interactive session that allows you to try drawing exercises from the Brain Wave book. The exercises are designed to train your whole brain, help you to let go of inhibitions and enjoy creativity. The workshop is hosted by the author of Brain Wave who will guide you through the exercises in a relaxed group setting. The workshop is suitable for all ages and abilities. 

Tutor: Bob James

For sceptics, happy to question even what they think they know is a fact.Wide ranging discussions of events and causes from the past and the present.

Many of us have stories in our heads, either based on facts or fantasy, that we want to share. Stories can be a positive medium to share our thoughts and feelings, ourselves, our friends, our lives.
Over the semester we will work on skills and exercises that enhance all writing pieces, e.g Voice, Narrative, Plot and structure, Characterisation, Dialogue, Point of view, etc.
Class members will be invited to read aloud and share their writing examples.
Class would meet fortnightly, with home writing tasks set to share in the following session.

In our eternal search for wisdom what window of Light do the esoteric, mystical and metaphysical poets contribute?
What does breath and sound contribute to the insight of the poets?
What was the contribution and focus of the esoteric poets including Attar, Sanai, Rumi and later Gibran among others?
What is your view of their work?

We will look at several poets including Blake, Donne, Vaughan, Whitman and Yeats among others.
What is the difference between the groups. How do they differ with the Middle Eastern earlier cohort?
What insight do they contribute to our insight?
What is your view of their work?

After work and retirement what are your plans?
Life often settles by organizing your financial plans, travel ideas, supporting your family, and maybe taking on some interests and hobbies.
Little thought goes into your personal health and fitness until you might experience a medical or heath related issue that can often force a rethink of your retirement.
Quick fixes like pill popping come with a multitude of side effects and don’t address the underlying cause.
Greg users a myriad of research and practical experience to discuss an alternative natural feel-good strategy to improve health, strength and fitness as we age.
DISCLAIMER: THIS IS NOT MEDICAL ADVICE- CHECK WITH YOUR DOCTOR BEFORE MAKING ANY CHANGES

Japanese Advanced Language and Culture
Tutor: Jenny King
This course follows the Intermediate Japanese course. During the year we will revise familiar conversational, listening, reading and writing skills and our understanding of the importance of Japanese cultural traditions. We will practise using the Kanji symbols already studied and introduce a range of new Kanji symbols which are used in everyday communication. The Hiragana and Katakana scripts will continue to be used each lesson while additional grammatical structures will be introduced to increase language fluency. Worksheets are provided each week and audiovisual presentations and videos are used each lesson. No textbook is necessary.

Leaders: Lena Gilmour and Sherill Jones
Scientific research has proven that a regular practice of meditation has many health benefits, including reducing stress levels, lowering high blood pressure as well as retaining more grey matter which could help against age related tissue decline. We will be including meditations on mindfulness, breathing, relaxation, visualisation, and chakras. For our meditation practice we will be sitting on a chair but if you prefer to lie down please bring along a yoga mat or towel, cushion, or pillow and maybe a blanket.
The course does not promote any specific philosophy or religious background.

 
From Stone-Age to Screen-Age. A quixotic odyssey through the role of stories in human life, a journey from the gods and heroic legends of the past into the sagas of modern times and movies, from the stone-age to screen-age, with tales of life and love and loss and laughter, through crime, comedy, cartoons, and classics, with special focus on enduring themes and - especially - why we humans need and respond to stories.

Tutor: Mark McConnell
Topics will include refresher on shutter/aperture/ISO, tips, group photography, lighting (flash and available light), scanning and copying photos (pixels vs print size), video tips, histograms, Photoshop and processing images. Field Trips in session 3, 5 and 7, group decides on a location for each field trip. Field trips may be held at an earlier time than classroom sessions depending on location and weather.

Tutor: Mark McConnell
Bringing your camera to each session is an advantage but not essential. Field trips in session 3 and 7. The group decides on a location for each field trip. Your efforts will be displayed and discussed after each field trip. Topics covered will include: histograms, cameras and their workings; different formats, how they function, shutter/aperture/ISO. Lighting and flash photography, point of view, framing (landscape or portrait); field excursion discussion and feedback on images taken; different types of photography, common mistakes, rule of thirds, composition, cropping in camera.

Presenter: John Carr
 
 or How to write a gospel: revealing the diverse story-making processes by which a person now called ‘Jesus’ came to be re-shaped into the lead-role in that great drama known as the Jesus-Story. Others have suggested a crucial distinction between our current Jesus-Story and the person called Jesus, and in this course we will identify the array of narrative strategies that have been woven together to mould the Jesus-Stories from identifiable story-elements. Many of these story-elements actually pre-existed the real person, so in essence we will be tracing the means by which a ‘Jesus-before-Jesus’ and later the real Jesus were both transformed into the modern ‘Jesus Christ’.

Leader: Susan Coggan
This session begins with 25 minutes of playing melodies using First 50 Melodies You Should Play on Your Ukulele (HL 292982). Otherwise join us at 10.30 for playing songs from The Ukulele Club Songbook Vol 2 . We will explore playing chords in alternative positions; finger picking and different strums. You will need to be able to play 8-10 chords to join this class.

Leader: The group

Are you cruising with your chords and strumming? Do you practice regularly? Are you keen to learn and share some new techniques, finger picking, chord melodies, strum patterns and embellishments?
If so, join with this group of like-minded uke players to share new songs and techniques; and to learn together. As there is no group leader, each week two or three members will introduce something new to the group; and will guide members in their learning. All members will contribute over the term.

A uke jam session and something new to practice... what more could you want?

Presenter: Teresa Stone and John Sharples
What causes violence and aggression? How should we deal with it? Is swearing a sign of ignorance? What makes it so offensive? Where do these words come from and how should we deal with the distress swearing may cause? When do drug and alcohol use become problematic? Why do people use and how does it affect you? These interactive sessions will allow you to challenge your views on these topical issues and introduce you to new concepts from speakers with long experience working in mental health and criminology

Course Leader: John Thacker

A regular practice based upon YOGA traditions and disciplines that can help you build strength, flexibility and balance along with awareness, bringing together the mind and the body. It includes breathing exercises, meditation and shapes that stretch and flex various muscle groups. Standard YOGA props are required: mat, blocks, strap. A bolster or similar will assist your practice and is highly recommended. Suitable clothing for movement is appropriate.

This class is ideal for members who have previously done some form of Yoga, but all interested participants are welcome.

Tutor: Brett Morgan
The National College of Dance (NCD) at Lambton offers Ballet classes for adults, run by its Director, Brett Morgan, who has a background in professional ballet. The aim is to improve balance, muscle strength and fitness, memory, flexibility and coordination. No previous ballet experience necessary, wear socks and comfortable clothes. NB: NCD follows the NSW Dept. Ed. school (not NU3A) term dates.

The classes usually costs $22 per session, however it is offered to us on a donation system. The school asks that participants contribute either what they feel the class is worth to them, or what they can afford that week. It could be anything up to $22.

Presenter: Peter Abery
Using industry standard software, get yourself started on organising your photos ready for editing, and then enhancing your digital photos. Learn some techniques to use now, and maybe some for later!
Required equipment :
·   Laptop
·   Lightroom Classic photo editing software (adobe creative cloud). A subscription costs $18.99/month. Download and start up before first class.
·   Mouse
·   Camera/sd card with photos taken in RAW file format
·   A way to transfer photos onto your laptop from your camera ie USB SD card reader. I recommend a USB 3.0 version for faster file transfer. These can be picked up online for as little as $8. Please make sure your camera’s storage card type is supported
·   USB thumb drive or small SSD. Ideally USB 3.0 and 16GB or more

This course will continue in Term 4 in a different time slot. Participants need to enrol separately in each course.