Fortnightly News 18/8/2017

2017 Big Book Fair

The BIG Book Fair held last weekend was a resounding success raising $22,000 for the Club. As a self-funded organisation, fund raising is important and these funds will benefit all members as it enables us to continue to maintain and improve the Club facilities.

We had a huge amount of books to sell and as expected there are plenty left over. Most of the leftovers will go to Lifeline, who are very happy to collect them. Some have gone to the Canberra Hospital patient library and some to the Uniting Church Yarralumla for a Spinal ACT book-stall this weekend.

Left over magazines are available for Members to take for free. You may like to give them to friends, family, or organisations e.g. medical centres – whoever may appreciate them. They are on the shelves in the veranda – so have a look and take any you like.

The success of such an event depends on the support of a large number of members. The whole Club, as a self-funded organisation, benefits from the Book Fair.

Special thanks go to:

• Judy Bartlett for a mammoth effort in undertaking the overall organisation of the books on sale.
• The fantastic team members that spent many hours every week over the last year cleaning, sorting and packing books. These teams lead by Judy Bartlett operated on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings and were responsible for the high quality of the books offered.
• The Special Events Committee members who organised the cafe lead by Cindy McMillan, Lutana McLeod and Sue Allen.
• The welcome team lead by Jennifer Pratten who collected entry donations and handed out information.
• Don Puttick and his helpers on the Checkout.
• Chris Mackay who managed Hall 1 and all her helpers.
• Linda Elford who managed Hall 2 and all her helpers.
• Des Davies and the table tennis group for moving hundreds of boxes.
• The members who helped set up, fill tables during the event and pack up.
• Ann Baker and the WOWs (Watercolours on Wednesdays group) for the beautiful cards, bookmarks and display of paintings.
• The family of members who ‘voluntold’ or were cajoled into helping.
• Polly for all her assistance.
• Judy Henderson for the publicity.
• Activity groups for putting up with the disruption just before and after the event.
• The generous community that donated books, and
• Last but not least all who came and bought the books and paintings.

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Fortnightly News 4/8/2017

2017 Big Book Fair, 11 – 13 August 2017

Help publicise the Book Fair

Woden Seniors BIG Book Fair

10 am to 4 pm

11 to 13 August 2017

One week to go to the BIG Book Fair

Please continue to tell as many people as possible about the Book Fair. We have many more books than previous years so it is going to be a bumper event. Now we need plenty of customers!

Book Fair Food

Volunteers are needed to donate food (cakes, sandwiches & pies etc) for the Book Fair.

Volunteers are also needed to sell food in kitchen verandah area. There will be three shifts during the Book Fair on Friday, Saturday and Sunday,

10.00 am to 12.00 pm

12.00 pm to 2.00 pm

2.0 pm to 4.00 pm.

Would volunteers please give their names to Polly

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Fortnightly News 21/7/2017

Bridge Lessons

A new series of Bridge lessons began on Monday 17 July; beginners at 1:30pm; Improvers at 2pm. It’s not too late to join up.

Soup Kitchen

Sue Allen has the soup kitchen is up and running on Wednesdays. Enjoy a choice of two soups and bread for $5 in the Club or pick-up and take home for later. If you would like to help out with cooking or serving please let Sue know.

Dr Thornber’s Talk on “Animal Welfare”

On Friday, 14th July, an appreciative audience listened to an interesting and informative talk given by Dr Peter Thornber, Professor of Animal Welfare and Ethics at the University of Queensland and President of the Commonwealth Veterinary Association. He spoke about the change in community attitudes from one protecting animals to thinking of their welfare, and their quality of life. He spoke in detail of Australia’s Animal Welfare Strategy Plan and its implementation. This is a huge plan because it has to cover the health and wellbeing of all creatures – land, water and air. Other countries have used this as a model for theirs.

Dr Thornber related many of his fascinating experiences overseas, illustrating them with photos. Questions were welcomed in the relaxed atmosphere, and led to a free exchange of experiences and opinions. It was easy to see his passionate involvement in his work. He now works for the Donkey Sanctuary in Devon, England, but also spends much of his time helping various countries mainly in Africa.

We thoroughly enjoyed his talk and his willingness to answer questions. Also he has kindly allowed us to put his PowerPoint presentation on the website for anyone to access. Do try it. Click here for a direct link to the presentation.

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Fortnightly News 7/7/2017

Bridge Lessons

A new series of Bridge lessons commence on Monday 17 July; beginners at 1:30pm; Improvers at 2pm.

New Art Display in the Club Foyer

The Wednesday morning art group has mounted a new exhibition of their work in the Club’s foyer and Anne Murray room, this exhibition features fur, fruit and flowers.

Soup Kitchen

Sue Allen has the soup kitchen is up and running on Wednesdays. Enjoy a choice of two soups and bread for $5 in the Club or pick-up and take home for later. If you would like to help out with cooking or serving please let Sue know.

Woden Seniors Book Club

The Book Club will meet in the Anne Murray Room on Friday 28 July to discuss ‘Price of Salt’ by Patricia Highsmith.

Friday 28 July: Price of Salt by Patricia Highsmith;

Friday 25 August: Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty.

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Fortnightly News 23/6/2017

Bridge Lessons

A new series of Bridge lessons commence on Monday 17 July; beginners at 1:30pm; Improvers at 2pm.

New Art Display in the Club Foyer

The Wednesday morning art group has mounted a new exhibition of their work in the Club’s foyer and Anne Murray room, this exhibition features fur, fruit and flowers.

The Canberra Chordsmen – Family and Friends Concert

For the culmination of our Sing With Us! new members programme, the Canberra Chordsmen invite Club members to join them for a free performance of four part harmony singing featuring the new singers in their first public performance with the Canberra Chordsmen.

Doors open at 7:45pm and the show runs from 8 – 9pm and includes performances by:

• Canberra Chordsmen chorus;
• Corduroys men’s quartet;
• Fresh Notes men’s quartet;
• UMQ mixed quartet.

When: Thursday 6th July, 8 – 9pm

Where: Woden Seniors Club, Hall 1

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Fortnightly News 9/6/2017

ACT Budget for Seniors

There is some good news in the ACT Budget for Seniors in the Woden area:

• free off-peak bus travel for seniors;
• funding to design a nurse led walk- in Centre in Weston;
• expansion of the Woden Library.

Soup Kitchen

Sue Allen has the soup kitchen is up and running on Wednesdays only at this stage. Choice of two soups and bread for $5. If you would like to help out with cooking or serving please let Sue know.

Funding for the Club

You may have seen a recent article in the Canberra Times reporting my comments on elements of the ACT Budget, specifically in relation to the lack of regular ACT Government funding for the Seniors Clubs in Canberra.

The Woden Seniors Club is primarily funded by members through activity fees, fundraising and ad hoc hiring of rooms and to a lesser extent car parking spaces to other groups.

The ACT Government provides ad-hoc grants for specific purposes, for example the new chairs we bought recently, this funding however represents less than 2% of our annual turnover. When we have approached the ACT Government for a regular supplement to our funding, the response has been to approach the local Licensed Clubs for funds from their poker machine revenue.

The Woden Seniors Club is registered as a Charity for Taxations purposes which means that any donations made to the Club are tax deductible.

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Fortnightly News 26/5/2017

Woden Seniors Book Club

The Book Club is up and running. The Book Club is registered with the ACT Library and the books are chosen from the Library’s Book Club list and available for borrowing. The Book Club will meet at 10:30am on the last Friday of the month in the Anne Murray room. New members are welcome. The following books have been selected for discussion over the next three months:

Friday 30 June: Dead Cat Bounce by Peter Cotton;

Friday 28 July: Price of Salt by Patricia Highsmith;

Friday 25 August: Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty.

U3A Warrani Chorale

The U3A Warrani Chorale is holding it’s first concert of the year ‘Songs From Far Off Lands’ at the Weston Creek Uniting Church, Parkinson St., Weston on Wednesday 14 June 2017 from 10:30 – 12 noon. Admission is by gold coin donation and light refreshments are included.

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Fortnightly News 12/5/2017

Book Club – Expression of interest

We are starting a book club that will meet each month on a day that suits participants. The focus of the book club will be determined by participants at an initial meeting, which is most likely to be in the week beginning 22 May. If you are interested in participating please let Polly know.

Round Dancing Beginner’s Class

A new beginner’s class for Round Dancing commenced on Friday 28 April. A session of one and half hours starts at 5.30 pm. Round Dancing is a couples activity, a form of ballroom dancing including all the usual rhythms (Waltz, Foxtrot, Quickstep, Rumba, Tango, Cha Cha and many more). Cost for the session will be $7 per person.

Social Ballroom Dancing- New Time Table

Social Ballroom Dancing is on every Tuesday afternoons from 2.00 – 3.30 pm in Hall 2.

2017 Big Book Fair, 11 – 13 August 2017

The Big Book Fair is only three months away! Not much time left to clean out the bookshelf! If you are thinking of donating books we would appreciate them sooner rather than later so that there time for the team to sort and categorise them.

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Fortnightly News 28/4/2017

Round Dancing Beginner’s Class

A new beginner’s class for Round Dancing will begin on Friday 28 April. A session of one and half hours will commence at 5.30 pm. Round Dancing is a couples activity, a form of ballroom dancing including all the usual rhythms (Waltz, Foxtrot, Quickstep, Rumba, Tango, Cha Cha and many more). Cost for the session will be $7 per person.

Social Ballroom Dancing- New Time Table

Social Ballroom Dancing is on every Tuesday afternoons from 2.00 – 3.30 pm in Hall 2.

2017 Big Book Fair, 11 – 13 August 2017

This year’s Big Book Fair from 11 to 13 August will be a bumper event. We already have many more books than this time last year and the container is almost full.

Thank you to all the people who have volunteered to help sort and clean the books – we have a very keen and dedicated team, who can always do with more help if anyone has an hour or so to spare on a Monday, Wednesday or Friday morning.

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Fortnightly News 18/4/2017

Round Dancing Beginners

A class for new Round Dancing will begin on Friday 28 April. A session of one and half hours will commence at 5.30 pm. Round Dancing is a couples activity, a form of ballroom dancing including all the usual rhythms (Waltz, Foxtrot, Quickstep, Rumba, Tango, Cha Cha and many more). Cost for the session will be $7 per person.

Social Ballroom Dancing- New Time Table

Social Ballroom Dancing is on every Tuesday afternoons from 2.00 – 3.30 pm in Hall 2.

Read More