Woden Seniors Inc

50 years of providing Community Service to the over-50s of Canberra

By

Fortnightly News 5/11/2021

Annual General Meeting 2021

Date: Monday 15th November 2021

Time: 11.00 am

Place: Hall 1

Nominations for the Executive Committee must be on the prescribed form, giving the consent of the candidate and signed by two members of the Club. These nominations must be given to the Secretary by Monday 8th November. Forms are available at the office.

BIG Book Fair – Save the date

The Book Fair is scheduled for early next year. It will be over three days from Friday 25 to Sunday 27 March 2022. Add these dates to your diary and think about how you can assist. This is the major fund-raiser for the Club and we have been unable to hold it for two years now.

The container and store-room are jam-packed with boxes of high quality books just waiting for enthusiastic customers.

Get IT is back!

The Council on the Ageing, ACT (COTA ACT) is again offering its popular one on one ‘Get IT’ digital support sessions after the lockdown.

You can learn with one of the digital mentors by contacting the COTA ACT office on 02 6282 3777. Appointments are limited and booking fast.

Some of the things COTA ACT has helped people with over the past months include:

– Setting up email addresses

– Downloading and using the Check In CBR app

– Checking for COVID-19 exposure locations

– Downloading and using Zoom

– Accessing MyGov

– Downloading your digital COVID-19 certificate

– Beginning phone use such as turning the phone on and off, adding and editing contacts, making phone
calls and sending text messages

COTA ACT is based at the Hughes Community Centre.

Covid 19 Restrictions

  • Check in everywhere you go with the Check In CBR app;
  • Maintain good hand hygiene;
  • Face-masks are mandatory in the ACT and wear it properly (indoors and outdoors);
  • Physical distance from each other at least 1.5 metre or one person per four metres when indoors; and
  • You don’t need to wear face-mask when undertaking vigorous exercise.

Please Do Not Enter the Club if:

  • You are feeling unwell and developing cold or flu like symptoms (including fever, cough, sore throat, fatigue or shortness of breath); or
  • You have been in close contact with someone with these symptoms or is a confirmed COVID-19 case; or
  • You or someone you have been in close contact with has recently returned from interstate or overseas.

Download the App

5 step process to download and use the app:

(Internet connection and compatible phone or tablet device required)

  1. Download the Check In CBR App from Google Play Store or the Apple App Store.
  2. Register your details (required for the first time only).
  3. At participating venues, open the app, select ‘Check In Now’ and hover your smartphone over the displayed QR code.
  4. Add in any additional people – those who are with you without their own device or app.
  5. When the check-in is complete, show venue staff the app successful check in screen.

By

Fortnightly News 22/10/2021

Welcome back, we are reopening the Club on Monday 25 October 2021 and all activities are on again.

Annual General Meeting 2021

Date: Monday 15th November 2021

Time: 11.00 am

Place: Hall 1

Members wishing to bring business before the meeting must submit it in writing, in the form of a motion, to the Secretary by Monday 1st November. (it can be left with Polly.)

Nominations for the Executive Committee must be on the prescribed form, giving the consent of the candidate and signed by two members of the Club. These nominations must be given to the Secretary by Monday 8th November. Forms are available at the office.

Vale – Margaret Bourke

Margaret Bourke died on 7 August 2021. Margaret was well known in the Bridge world having captained the ladies team in international competition. Margaret also started us on the path to the Book Fair. Margaret and I would take books to various fairs to sell before starting our own Book Fair in 2014.

Covid 19 Restrictions

  • Check in everywhere you go with the Check In CBR app;
  • Maintain good hand hygiene;
  • Face-masks are mandatory in the ACT and wear it properly (indoors and outdoors);
  • Physical distance from each other at least 1.5 metre or one person per four metres when indoors; and
  • You don’t need to wear face-mask when undertaking vigorous exercise.

Please Do Not Enter the Club if:

  • You are feeling unwell and developing cold or flu like symptoms (including fever, cough, sore throat, fatigue or shortness of breath); or
  • You have been in close contact with someone with these symptoms or is a confirmed COVID-19 case; or
  • You or someone you have been in close contact with has recently returned from interstate or overseas.

Download the App

5 step process to download and use the app:

(Internet connection and compatible phone or tablet device required)

  1. Download the Check In CBR App from Google Play Store or the Apple App Store.
  2. Register your details (required for the first time only).
  3. At participating venues, open the app, select ‘Check In Now’ and hover your smartphone over the displayed QR code.
  4. Add in any additional people – those who are with you without their own device or app.
  5. When the check-in is complete, show venue staff the app successful check in screen.

By

Fortnightly News 6/8/2021

Annual General Meeting

The Woden Seniors Club 2021 Annual General Meeting will be held in Hall 1, at 12 noon on Monday 20 September 2021 unless there is a COVID-19 outbreak. A light lunch of sandwiches, cakes and tea/coffee will be provided after the meeting. Please come along to the meeting as we did not have one last year.

No more books!

We are unable to accept and process any more books until further notice. So please keep them until then. Please also tell anyone you know who is thinking about donating books.

Free Digital Help For Seniors

Club Membership

Please ensure your membership and parking voucher is up to date.

Woden Seniors is turning 50 next year

We are preparing a book to mark the 50th birthday of the club and are looking for people that may be able to help in its preparation. We are looking for five or six people that maybe able to help. Please let Polly know

Read More

By

Fortnightly News 23/7/2021

Book Fair posters

The Book Fair is getting very close. There are still lots of posters available to be distributed – A4 and A5 size. So please pick up some and distribute them in the community for example, in shop windows, noticeboards, letter boxes, to members of groups you are involved in and any place where they can be left responsibly.

The more we get out the more people will know about it, and the more books we will sell.

Book Fair volunteers

Thank you to all who have signed up to help during the Book Fair. At this stage we have sufficient volunteers to help during the event ie on Thursday 5, Friday 6, Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 August. The roster will be available from Polly if you need to check your time.

However, we do need more help with packing up.

Packing up is also a time when some fresh volunteers are most welcome. We are all exhausted by the end of the last day. So if you are able to come along at 4 pm on Sunday 8 August we will give you a job and be most grateful.

No more books!

We are unable to accept and process any more books until September. So please keep them until then. Please also tell anyone you know who is thinking about donating books. We will be happy to have them in September but definitely not now.

Read More

By

Fortnightly News 9/7/2021

Book Fair

Preparations are in the late stages for this year’s BIG Book Fair to be held over four days from Thursday 5 to Sunday 8 August.

At this stage members can help with the publicity. Please take a few bookmarks or small posters to hand out or A4 and A3 posters to put on noticeboards in the community.

This will be a COVID safe event and attendees must check in using the Check in Canberra app.

No more books!

We are unable to accept and process any more books until September. So please keep them until then. Please also tell anyone you know who is thinking about donating books. We will be happy to have them in September but definitely not now.

$1 Increase in the Activity Fee from 1st July 2021

We have increased the Activity Fee from $5 to $6 from 1 July 2021. This is the first increase in ten years. With the impact of the pandemic there are less people using the Club and we are currently making a loss. Due to the pandemic we have had to increase the level of cleaning in the Club, this has doubled the cleaning cost to the Club. A convenient way to manage this increase is to buy vouchers from the front office.

Club Membership

Please ensure your membership and parking voucher is up to date.

Woden Seniors is turning 50th next year

We are preparing a book to mark the 50th birthday of the club and are looking for people that may be able to help in its preparation. We are looking for five or six people that maybe able to help. Please let Polly know if you are interested in helping.

Read More

By

Fortnightly News 25/6/2021

$1 Increase in the Activity Fee from 1st July 2021

We will be increasing the Activity Fee from $5 to $6 from 1 July 2021. This is the first increase in ten years. With the impact of the pandemic there are less people using the Club and we are currently making a loss. Due to the pandemic we have had to increase the level of cleaning in the Club, this has doubled the cleaning cost to the Club. A convenient way to manage this increase is to buy vouchers from the front office.

Save the date – BIG Book Fair

The Book Fair will be held over four days this year from Thursday 5 August to Sunday 8 August from 10 am to 4 pm daily. This is the Club’s major fundraising event for the year and it promises to be a bumper event.

Please help publicise it. One way to do this is to hand out some ‘Save the Date’ bookmarks, which can be picked up from the counter.

Club Membership

Please ensure your membership and parking voucher is up to date.

Woden Seniors is turning 50 next year

We are preparing a book to mark the 50th birthday of the club and are looking for people that may be able to help in its preparation. We are looking for five or six people that maybe able to help. Please let Polly know if you are interested in helping.

Read More

By

Fortnightly News11/6/2021

$1 Increase in the Activity Fee from 1st July 2021

We will be increasing the Activity Fee from $5 to $6 from 1 July 2021. This is the first increase in ten years. With the impact of the pandemic there are less people using the Club and we are currently making a loss. Due to the pandemic we have had to increase the level of cleaning in the Club, this has doubled the cleaning cost to the Club. A convenient way to manage this increase is to buy vouchers from the front office.

Free Digital Help for Seniors

Club Membership

Please ensure your membership and parking voucher is up to date.

Save the date – BIG Book Fair

The Book Fair will be held over four days this year from Thursday 5 August to Sunday 8 August from 10 am to 4 pm daily. This is the Club’s major fundraising event for the year and it promises to be a bumper event.

Please help publicise it. One way to do this is to hand out some ‘Save the Date’ bookmarks, which can be picked up from the counter.

Woden Seniors is turning 50 next year

Do you remember … an activity you enjoyed? working with friends to do something? a funny situation? unforgettable moments? winning the sweep at the Melbourne Cup Party? laughing with friends at a Christmas lunch? We’d like to hear about them because next year is our 50th Anniversary. We want to create something special to celebrate – a book of memories, the special memories of our members. Please write them for us and give them to Polly, or email them to the Club. If you would prefer to talk about them, please let Polly know so we can arrange a time to talk together about them.

Enjoy remembering,

Cindy McMillan

Please Do Not Enter the Club if:

  • You are feeling unwell and developing cold or flu like symptoms (including fever, cough, sore throat, fatigue or shortness of breath); or
  • You have been in close contact with someone with these symptoms or is a confirmed COVID-19 case; or
  • You or someone you have been in close contact with has recently returned from interstate or overseas.

Check In CBR App

The ACT Government has mandated that the Check In CBR App be used by all venues from 6 March 2021. This means that members entering the Club must use the Check In CBR App.

The ‘Check In CBR’ app is a contactless, secure and convenient way for members to sign into the Woden Seniors Club.

The app helps protect the community by assisting with faster contact tracing. The app enables individuals to check-in to venues and have this data stored securely with ACT Health in the event contact tracing is needed due to a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the community.

Use of the app will help the ACT Health contact tracing team quickly identify and assist anyone who may have been exposed to COVID-19.

During the COVID-19 public health emergency non-essential businesses and undertakings are required by law to ask for the first name and phone number of people who attend their venue. Use of this app enables businesses to comply with these laws.

Download the App

5 step process to download and use the app:

(Internet connection and compatible phone or tablet device required)

  1. Download the Check In CBR App from Google Play Store or the Apple App Store.
  2. Register your details (required for the first time only).
  3. At participating venues, open the app, select ‘Check In Now’ and hover your smartphone over the displayed QR code.
  4. Add in any additional people – those who are with you without their own device or app.
  5. When the check-in is complete, show venue staff the app successful check in screen.

Spiral News Program

June 17 Tracy Gillard Leo’s Place

Tracy is the Chief Executive Officer of Palliative Care ACT. Leo’s Place is a new non-clinical facility which was opened in January this year. It provides respite for people with a life-limiting illness and their carers.

June 24 Phil Creaser Messages from the Past… Lessons for the Future

One of the benefits of the pandemic, for us but not for Phil, is that our guest speaker is in Canberra instead of on a luxury liner sailing to exotic destinations giving lectures to the passengers.

Phil will tell us what we can learn from the fossil record and why we need a Natural History Museum here in Canberra.

Spiral is a group of senior citizens (60+ to 90+) that meet each Thursday morning, they are non-denominational with people from varied backgrounds, occupations and origins. The Spiral Photo Album gives a good sense of who they are and what they do. There are no fees but a $1 contribution to costs is requested. Spiral is seeking new members, helpers and guest speakers. You are not obliged to come every week and you can come for the talk and/or the morning tea. Any questions or suggestions please contact me or one of the other people on the list below.

Location: The Uniting Church in Gillies Street, Curtin.

When: Thursday morning.

Time: Speakers will commence at 10.10 and most will join us for the morning tea that will follow.

By

Fortnightly News 28/5/2021

$1 Increase in the Activity Fee from 1 July 2021

We will be increasing the Activity Fee from $5 to $6 from 1 July 2021. This is the first increase in ten years. With the impact of the pandemic there are less people using the Club and we are currently making a loss. Due to the pandemic we have had to increase the level of cleaning in the Club, this has doubled the cleaning cost to the Club. A convenient way to manage this increase is to buy vouchers from the front office.

Club Membership

Please ensure your membership and parking voucher is up to date.

Save the Date – BIG Book Fair

The Club has decided to have a BIG Book Fair from 5 to 8 August 2021 – just over two months away. It will be a COVID Safe event.

There are many thousands of books waiting to be sold. These have been collected over the last two years. To have the best chance of selling them all, the Book Fair will be held over four days this time.

This means we will need plenty of volunteers to help, particularly people who are interested in taking a leadership role in several areas, namely: non-fiction, children, DVDs and CDs, carpark management, and as a COVID safe marshal. If you are interested in taking on any of these roles please let Polly know.

Woden Seniors is turning 50th next year

Do you remember … an activity you enjoyed? working with friends to do something? a funny situation? unforgettable moments? winning the sweep at the Melbourne Cup Party? laughing with friends at a Christmas lunch? We’d like to hear about them because next year is our 50th Anniversary. We want to create something special to celebrate – a book of memories, the special memories of our members. Please write them for us and give them to Polly, or email them to the Club. If you would prefer to talk about them, please let Polly know so we can arrange a time to talk together about them.

Enjoy remembering,

Cindy McMillan

Please Do Not Enter the Club if:

  • You are feeling unwell and developing cold or flu like symptoms (including fever, cough, sore throat, fatigue or shortness of breath); or
  • You have been in close contact with someone with these symptoms or is a confirmed COVID-19 case; or
  • You or someone you have been in close contact with has recently returned from interstate or overseas.

Check In CBR App

The ACT Government has mandated that the Check In CBR App be used by all venues from 6 March 2021. This means that members entering the Club must use the Check In CBR App.

The ‘Check In CBR’ app is a contactless, secure and convenient way for members to sign into the Woden Seniors Club.

The app helps protect the community by assisting with faster contact tracing. The app enables individuals to check-in to venues and have this data stored securely with ACT Health in the event contact tracing is needed due to a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the community.

Use of the app will help the ACT Health contact tracing team quickly identify and assist anyone who may have been exposed to COVID-19.

During the COVID-19 public health emergency non-essential businesses and undertakings are required by law to ask for the first name and phone number of people who attend their venue. Use of this app enables businesses to comply with these laws.

Download the App

5 step process to download and use the app:

(Internet connection and compatible phone or tablet device required)

  1. Download the Check In CBR App from Google Play Store or the Apple App Store.
  2. Register your details (required for the first time only).
  3. At participating venues, open the app, select ‘Check In Now’ and hover your smartphone over the displayed QR code.
  4. Add in any additional people – those who are with you without their own device or app.
  5. When the check-in is complete, show venue staff the app successful check in screen.

Spiral News
Dear Spiral newsletter readers

There are many more of you than there are people who attend our weekly gatherings. That’s fine: you should come to the talks and events that appeal to you, you don’t need to come along every week. It means that we are not sure how many people we need to cater for with cakes/ biscuits/ sandwiches, but we know by 10.00 how many people we have and we adjust to that. The group that organises Spiral, and there are many of us, have been very pleasantly surprised that our numbers in 2021 are better than ever, that we are regularly meeting new members and it is wonderful to hear the buzz of conversations after 11.00. And I get feedback from people who don’t come along but enjoy hearing what we are doing. That’s nice.

I have never before sent out two newsletters in a 24-hour period. And I’ll try to be quick because in less than seven hours’ time, at 5 am on Friday, I am being taken to the airport to fly to Auckland to visit my elder son and his family which includes a grandson I have never met even though he is already walking. Covid-19 has had many consequences, in the big picture this is quite a minor one, but my wife and I are looking forward to catching up after such a long break.

There was a change to the program I sent out last night and there have been consequential changes. You will have to wait until July to meet Jane Goffman and to hear about Canberra’s first aerodrome. I’m grateful to John Morland who has stepped in at short notice to fill this gap. In trying to fill the gap I got a very special offer but I had to juggle other slots. Tracy Gillard has stepped back a week and you will now have to wait until July to hear about life on the diplomatic circuit.

Here is the new program.

June 3 John Morland Planet Vulcan

Those of us who have watched Star Trek know Dr Spock came from the planet Vulcan in a separate solar system light years away from our own. However, in our own solar system, 19th century astronomers believed there was a planet orbiting between our Sun and the planet Mercury. They named it Vulcan. To them it was real, it was a planet. It had theoretical credibility and it had even been discovered and seen on a few occasions. It was elusive, it was an enigma, it appeared and disappeared, it continually defied the predictions of the most brilliant mathematical minds of the time. It literally was the phantom, the ghost in Newton’ s clockwork universe. John, in his third astronomy talk with us, will share this fascinating planetary tale.

June 10 Tony Llewellyn-JonesThe Governor’s Family

If the name Tony Llewellyn-Jones rings a bell, it should. Google will tell you why. Tony lives in Sydney but he is directing the next Canberra Repertory production which will run between July 1 – 11. After hearing why this play was selected, how it will be presented, I’m sure you will be queueing up with me for tickets. What an opportunity, I thank Tony for giving up his busy time for us.

June 17 Tracy Gillard Leo’s Place

Tracy is the Chief Executive Officer of Palliative Care ACT. Leo’s Place is a new non-clinical facility which was opened in January this year. It provides respite for people with a life-limiting illness and their carers.

June 24 Phil Creaser Messages from the Past… Lessons for the Future

One of the benefits of the pandemic, for us but not for Phil, is that our guest speaker is in Canberra instead of on a luxury liner sailing to exotic destinations giving lectures to the passengers.

Phil will tell us what we can learn from the fossil record and why we need a Natural History Museum here in Canberra.

Spiral is a group of senior citizens (60+ to 90+) that meet each Thursday morning, they are non-denominational with people from varied backgrounds, occupations and origins. The Spiral Photo Album gives a good sense of who they are and what they do. There are no fees but a $1 contribution to costs is requested. Spiral is seeking new members, helpers and guest speakers. You are not obliged to come every week and you can come for the talk and/or the morning tea. Any questions or suggestions please contact me or one of the other people on the list below.

Location: The Uniting Church in Gillies Street, Curtin.

When: Thursday morning.

Time: Speakers will commence at 10.10 and most will join us for the morning tea that will follow.

By

Fortnightly News 14/5/2021

Need help with your phone or tablet? – Drop-in session

If you would like help about any issue to do with your mobile phone or tablet COTA ACT will be at the Club

  • on Thursday 27 May 2021
  • from 9.30 am to 11.30 am.

You may want help with the Check in CBR app or how to access Youtube – the possibilities are endless!

Just bring your phone or tablet and come along at any time during this session. Morning tea will be available.

ADVANCE CARE PLANNING

There will be more seminars on Advance Care Planning in the near future. We will let you know through this newsletter.

Table Tennis Sessions

Mondays 2.00 – 4.00 pm

Wednesdays 9.30 – 12.30 pm

Firdays – 9.30 – 12.30 pm

Please Do Not Enter the Club if:

  • You are feeling unwell and developing cold or flu like symptoms (including fever, cough, sore throat, fatigue or shortness of breath); or
  • You have been in close contact with someone with these symptoms or is a confirmed COVID-19 case; or
  • You or someone you have been in close contact with has recently returned from interstate or overseas.

Check In CBR App

The ACT Government has mandated that the Check In CBR App be used by all venues from 6 March 2021. This means that members entering the Club must use the Check In CBR App.

The ‘Check In CBR’ app is a contactless, secure and convenient way for members to sign into the Woden Seniors Club.

The app helps protect the community by assisting with faster contact tracing. The app enables individuals to check-in to venues and have this data stored securely with ACT Health in the event contact tracing is needed due to a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the community.

Use of the app will help the ACT Health contact tracing team quickly identify and assist anyone who may have been exposed to COVID-19.

During the COVID-19 public health emergency non-essential businesses and undertakings are required by law to ask for the first name and phone number of people who attend their venue. Use of this app enables businesses to comply with these laws.

Download the App

5 step process to download and use the app:

(Internet connection and compatible phone or tablet device required)

  1. Download the Check In CBR App from Google Play Store or the Apple App Store.
  2. Register your details (required for the first time only).
  3. At participating venues, open the app, select ‘Check In Now’ and hover your smartphone over the displayed QR code.
  4. Add in any additional people – those who are with you without their own device or app.
  5. When the check-in is complete, show venue staff the app successful check in screen.
   
 

Spiral News

Spiral is a group of senior citizens (60+ to 90+) that meet each Thursday morning, they are non-denominational with people from varied backgrounds, occupations and origins. The Spiral Photo Album gives a good sense of who they are and what they do. There are no fees but a $1 contribution to costs is requested. Spiral is seeking new members, helpers and guest speakers. You are not obliged to come every week and you can come for the talk and/or the morning tea. Any questions or suggestions please contact me or one of the other people on the list below.

Location: The Uniting Church in Gillies Street, Curtin.

When: Thursday morning.

Time: Speakers will commence at 10.10 and most will join us for the morning tea that will follow.

May 20 Capital Folk

This is a group of eight musicians who will bring us “Tuneful folk music from around the world.”

May 27 Dr Sophie Jensen The Trevor Kennedy Collection: Highlights

Sophie is a senior curator at the National Museum of Australia. This exhibition features 500 stunning artworks, furniture, jewellery and ceramics. Sophie will talk about Trevor’s inspired collecting and how the Museum came to acquire its largest and most significant acquisition to date. Discover stories of colonial life and society and defining moments in our history, including Federation, the discovery of gold and great sporting feats.

By

Fortnightly News 30/4/2021

Need help with your phone or tablet? – Drop-in session

If you would like help about any issue to do with your mobile phone or tablet COTA ACT will be at the Club

  • on Thursday 27 May 2021
  • from 9.30 am to 11.30 am.

You may want help with the Check CBR app or how to access Youtube – the possibilities are endless!

Just bring your phone or tablet and come along at any time during this session. Morning tea will be available.

ADVANCE CARE PLANNING

There will be more seminars on Advance Care Planning in the near future. We will let you know through this newsletter.

Table Tennis Sessions

Mondays 2.00 – 4.00 pm

Wednesdays 9.30 – 12.30 pm

Firdays – 9.30 – 12.30 pm

Check In CBR App

The ACT Government has mandated that the Check In CBR App be used by all venues from 6 March 2021. This means that members entering the Club must use the Check In CBR App.

The ‘Check In CBR’ app is a contactless, secure and convenient way for members to sign into the Woden Seniors Club.

The app helps protect the community by assisting with faster contact tracing. The app enables individuals to check-in to venues and have this data stored securely with ACT Health in the event contact tracing is needed due to a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the community.

Use of the app will help the ACT Health contact tracing team quickly identify and assist anyone who may have been exposed to COVID-19.

During the COVID-19 public health emergency non-essential businesses and undertakings are required by law to ask for the first name and phone number of people who attend their venue. Use of this app enables businesses to comply with these laws.

Download the App

5 step process to download and use the app:

(Internet connection and compatible phone or tablet device required)

  1. Download the Check In CBR App from Google Play Store or the Apple App Store.
  2. Register your details (required for the first time only).
  3. At participating venues, open the app, select ‘Check In Now’ and hover your smartphone over the displayed QR code.
  4. Add in any additional people – those who are with you without their own device or app.
  5. When the check-in is complete, show venue staff the app successful check in screen.

Spiral News

Spiral is a group of senior citizens (60+ to 90+) that meet each Thursday morning, they are non-denominational with people from varied backgrounds, occupations and origins. The Spiral Photo Album gives a good sense of who they are and what they do. There are no fees but a $1 contribution to costs is requested. Spiral is seeking new members, helpers and guest speakers. You are not obliged to come every week and you can come for the talk and/or the morning tea. Any questions or suggestions please contact me or one of the other people on the list below.

Location: The Uniting Church in Gillies Street, Curtin.

When: Thursday morning.

Time: Speakers will commence at 10.10 and most will join us for the morning tea that will follow.

May 6 Simeran Maxwell Botticelli to Van Gogh

Sim is a curator at the National Gallery of Australia. She was booked to talk to us about the Matisse & Picasso exhibition on March 26 last year but Covid got it the way. Here is a taste of what we missed.

This time Sim will take us through Botticelli to Van Gogh: Masterpieces from the National Gallery, London. This is the first time that the National Gallery has toured an exhibition of works internationally, a rare opportunity to see 61 paintings by some of Europe’s most revered artists, Make sure you book a ticket before the exhibition closes on 14 June.

May 13 Professor Don Beer Australian National Botanic Gardens

Former UNE historian and guide at the Australian National Botanic Gardens, Don will join us to talk about the creation of the ANBG. Subjects covered will include how the Gardens came into existence and how they achieved the shape they have today, the roles of Lindsay Pryor, David Shoobridge, Robert Boden and other leaders, as well as some of the major developments like the rainforest gully. His book, Miracle on Black Mountain, published last October, will be available for sale.

May 20 Capital Folk

This is a group of eight musicians who will bring us “Tuneful folk music from around the world.”

May 27 Dr Sophie Jensen The Trevor Kennedy Collection: Highlights

Sophie is a senior curator at the National Museum of Australia. This exhibition features 500 stunning artworks, furniture, jewellery and ceramics. Sophie will talk about Trevor’s inspired collecting and how the Museum came to acquire its largest and most significant acquisition to date. Discover stories of colonial life and society and defining moments in our history, including Federation, the discovery of gold and great sporting feats.