How fortunate we are to live in the leafy suburbs of Melbourne, where, along with 'four seasons in a day', we also have four distinct seasons each year. As Autumn comes to a close, we hope you're finding time to get out and warm yourselves under these glorious sunny skies, and forget about the worries of the world for a while.
With thanks to Barry McIntosh for this delightful picture
A Message from
Dear U3APP Members
I hope this message finds you all well and engaged with all of our online Courses and activities. Our Tutors and Coordinators continue to do a remarkable job. Participation rates are well into the 70% range, and the feedback is that everyone has adapted extremely well to this new environment.
Port Phillip Council has advised us that all of its community facilities will remain closed for the foreseeable future, and a reopening will not be considered before the end of June. I believe that this date is very optimistic, and Members should expect that there is a real possibility that face-to-face classes will not recommence before August, or later. Even then there will be significant restrictions in place and other hurdles to be overcome. Social distancing requirements alone makes it very difficult to accommodate students in any of the class rooms used by U3APP.
In the meantime, please continue to log in through our website to Zoom your respective activities and enjoy the camaraderie of your fellow Members and Tutors.
Stay safe, well and happy. Graham Gosling - President U3APP
Zoom App Update
We'd like to remind our Members to upgrade their Zoom App because the new version has better encryption, making it even more secure for users. We recommend you do this before 30 May, as from this date Zoom will automatically upgrade the next time you use Zoom for your class , which may make you late for your class.
U3APP has also implemented additional security controls in its Zoom accounts, such as restricting participants from sharing/annotating screens and not sending meeting links in emails.
Spotlight On! 
Diane Boyle
Diane is an important stalwart of the U3APP IT Team; last year she joined the Committee of Management and recently helped form the Covid-19 Working Group. Diane's interests are wide and varied, but in this week's Spotlight On! she talks about her love of the ocean and in particular scuba diving, ship wrecks and wooden boats. You can read her tale about taking up this exciting and adventurous pastime in her seventh decade, along with some of the amazing places this has taken her - just click here.
*** By the way, while you're here, how about putting pen to paper - or fingers to the keyboard - and telling us a bit about yourself. Do you have an interesting hobby, an exciting travel story, an unusual career, a passion for painting, a penchant for politics? We know our Members love reading Spotlight On! so get cracking now and send us your story along with a picture or two to webmaster@u3app.org.au so we can shine a Spotlight on You!
By now Tutors who have run Zoom Courses over the past couple of months should have received their invitation to attend a Zoom "Tutor Update and Thank You" meeting on 29 May in which we plan to:
- Show our appreciation to you, our Tutors, who are vital to the ongoing success of U3APP
- Provide details of the current state of affairs regarding Course delivery at U3APP
- Offer an opportunity for Tutors to share their experiences
Please advise tutor support Tutorsupport@u3app.org.au if you have not received your invitation.
All 2020 Tutors have been asked to complete a short Tutor Questionnaire about their Courses. The Working Group would appreciate all Questionnaires to be completed by Wednesday 20 May.
Review - Saturday Webinar 16 May
On our first Saturday seminar, 'Gardens of Lake Como', over forty members were transported via Webinar on Zoom to the glorious gardens that flank Lake Como in Italy. Dr Judy Hadju, a Friend of the Royal Botanic Gardens, led us via maps and photographs on a tour of the gardens of Balbianello, Carlotta, Monastero and Olmo. Judy spoke of the architecture of the villas and the history of their terraced gardens, the abundance of azaleas, rhododendrons, exotic plants, arranged in the style of English gardens, classical Italian design and the bamboo clusters of Japan. Judy concluded with reference to some of the writers that have been inspired by this Italian beauty.
Comments from the participants included that “the online session was absolutely fabulous, informative and up lifting” and that “ it was such a delight today to travel in Italy without leaving the house”.
Covid-19 Update
The Covid-19 Working Group continues to meet regularly and discuss ways of navigating our current situation. For the latest news, see U3APP President Graham Gosling's update at the start of this e-Bulletin or click here.
You can also access plenty of current information from trusted health, media and government sources about Covid-19 developments, as well as a veritable feast of things you keep you occupied as you 'stay at home', on our dedicated page "Helping You Get Through Covid-19"
And we're helping to further connect our Members on the U3APP Facebook Page with a little light banter and a few good jokes. Why not join us there for some light-hearted fun?
We would like to remind all our Members that for the safety of all, if you are diagnosed with Coronavirus, it's important you advise the Committee of Management by email at Committee@u3app.org.au.
If you must wear a mask
