Dear <<First Name>> (ID No. <<ID No.>>)

In this issue:

• Cancelled: New Member Information Meeting
• Forthcoming webinars
• Member matters
• Florey Lectures: Neuroscience-based stroke rehabilitation
• Vale Valerie Pincus, Life Member
• Spotlight on our volunteers: Peter Caldwell
• Taking LDW out of lockdown: Let's Do Weekends
• Other items of interest
  • School Crossing Supervisors sought
  • Melbourne Knowledge Week: Queen Victoria Women's Centre
  • Victoria Chorale returns! Fabulous Fauré
  • Research: Sleep in older adults

Forthcoming webinars

Note the new webinar on elder abuse on 28 May. Enrol now through the MyU3A Portal (see below).

Up next:

All You Should Know About Aged Care

Thursday, 13 May, 2.30 pm

Presenter: Sandra Hills, CEO, Benetas

Did you know?

• By 2058 the number of Australians over 80 years will almost double, as will the number of Australians with dementia?
• The aged care workforce will need to treble by 2058?
• Aged care will be the fastest growing federal government budget item after the NDIS.
• Seventy per cent of the current spend on aged care goes to residential care even though only 21% of recipients are in residential aged care

Sandra will discuss:

• What do we mean by aged care? - What services and supports are provided, and who is eligible? How do you access services? Who provides the services and who pays?
• The aged care landscape - What are the staff/funding challenges?
• The Royal Commission into Quality and Safety - What are the key findings and what needs to change?
• What is Benetas?

Elder Abuse

Friday, 28 May, 2.30 pm

Presenter: Andrew Meiliunas, Senior Associate and State Litigation Lawyer, Maurice Blackburn Lawyers

Older Australians are more at risk of being taken advantage of financially. What most people don’t realise is that this is a form of elder abuse. Recent estimates suggest that up to 14% of older Australians may be victim to elder abuse at some point in their lives.

This presentation will cover:

• How to recognise elder abuse.
• The key risk factors for an elderly person to be a victim of abuse.
• How we can help to prevent elder abuse.
• Where to go when things go wrong.

Andrew Meiliunas has over a decade of experience and has acted for hundreds of clients involved in elder abuse matters, giving him an in-depth inside knowledge of the elder abuse that occurs in our communities.

Archie 100

Thursday, 3 June, 2:30 pm

Presenter: Susie May, freelance writer and lecturer, educator, National Gallery of Victoria 2001-20

The Archibald Portraiture Prize consistently enthralls the public, generating strong opinions and great debate. Celebrate the 100th anniversary of this much loved exhibition and discover how it has reflected the changing face of both Australian society and the nature of portraiture over time. Investigate the colourful history of "The Archie", including legal battles, controversies and key portraits, artists and techniques, from the conservative to the radical, since the prize was first awarded in 1921.

Art in the Plague Years: The Black Death to Current Times

Thursday, 29 July, 2.30 pm

Presenter: Sharon Carter

Join Sharon on an art journey like no other. We will begin our exploration in the 14th century, during the era of the Black Death, and look at the beginnings of the grim reaper and dance of death themes. As we travel to the 15th and 16th centuries, we will explore the death and the maiden motif, and look at Holbein and Brueghel paintings. Moving to the 17th century, we'll consider the great plagues of London and Italy before jumping to the Spanish Flu in 1918 to look at artists who died from the flu, and finish with street artists and painters during COVID-19 creating hope and solidarity.

Justin Art House Museum: Naoshima Art Island, Japan

Thursday, 19 August, 2.30 pm

Presenters: Charles and Leah Justin

Join Charles and Leah Justin who have been collecting art for over 40 years. They share this collection through their house museum experience in Melbourne. They are avid travellers who will share their experience of visiting Naoshima Art Island in Japan.

Art in a Frame 2

Thursday, 14 October, 2.30 pm

Presenter: National Portrait Gallery Canberra staff

This is our second virtual visit to the National Portrait Gallery, coming during History Month. So this program will explore portraits of people who have influenced Australia's development and history.

Enrolment information

There is no cap on the number of webinar participants. To enrol:

• log into MyU3A and search for "Webinars Program 2021" via the Classes 2021 list; or
• send an email to the office on citymelb@u3a.org.au; or
• leave a voicemail on 9639 5209.

Prior to the webinar each enrolled member will receive details of how to participate.

For further information, contact the office on citymelb@u3a.org.au.

Vale Valerie Pincus, Life Member

Having spoken with Val only last October as part of our COVID liaison with older members, it is with sadness that we learned of Val Pincus' recent death at age 91 on 31 March.

Val was a greatly valued member of U3AMC since joining in 1997 to further her Italian studies. It wasn't long before she became an active volunteer who was awarded Life Membership in 2011 for her outstanding contribution over 10 years to our U3A. Val served on the Committee of Management for many years; she regularly staffed the office at both Ross House and RMIT; organised the Social Events program till 2011; and was sometimes Group Leader of her Italian course.

In her time running social events Val single-handedly organised over 110 events, including theatre and concert performances; visits to galleries and museums; outings to wineries, historic homesteads and gardens; river walks, coach trips and the Annual Winter Lunch.

Despite mobility challenges, Val remained a dedicated office volunteer until 2014 and an enthusiastic Italian student till 2017. We know many of you will remember Val from these activities and share our condolences with her family.

Julie Nankervis
Life Members Liaison

Taking LDW out of lockdown: Let's Do Weekends

The 6 am weather forecast for the Bay area wasn't encouraging. Rain. Squalls. Stormy seas.

All were delivered.

But that didn't stop Let's Do Weekends heading off to lunch at Wharf Shed in Geelong on April 10 in the comfort of the "Geelong Flier", a sleek wave-piercing catamaran.

After the unhurried lunch, 19 LDW members were not unhappy to hear that because of the forecast bad weather, an equally comfortable coach would whisk us back to Docklands in just an hour.

So, in the course of a single day we experienced good company, good food and revolutionary Australian technology.

As an astonishing footnote, no fewer than three InCat Tasmania vessels - the larger SeaCats - have held the Hales Trophy for the fastest Atlantic crossing by a passenger-carrying vessel. The record has stood for over 30 years. (The best time for New York to England is 2 days, 20 hours and 9 minutes, set in July 1998).

Thanks to Gillian Carr and Vicki Whiteside for another post-Lockdown success. There will be more.

Other items of interest

Disclaimer: Your committee has agreed to advertise the following external events, opportunities and other items of interest, but this should not be taken as an endorsement or recommendation to participate. Members are solely responsible for their own choices and any consequences that may result.

School Crossing Supervisors sought

Glen Eira City Council is currently recruiting for School Crossing Supervisors to operate any one of the 68 crossings within the City of Glen Eira. The crossings operate for 45 minutes Monday to Friday between the hours of: 8.00 and 9.00 am; and 3.00 and 4.00 pm. The rate per hour is $35.34, which is inclusive of casual loading. Please download the position description for more information and contact Rachel Harbeck at RHarbeck@gleneira.vic.gov.au or 03 9524 3337 for information on how to apply.

Melbourne Knowledge Week: Queen Victoria Women's Centre

Victoria Chorale returns! Fabulous Fauré

Saturday, 22 May, 5:00 pm
All Saints Church, 2 Chapel Street, East St Kilda

Victoria Chorale makes a joyous return to singing by performing Fauré’s sublime Requiem, his exquisite Cantique de Jean Racine and much loved Pavane. The concert also includes Haydn’s delightful Symphony No 1.

For more information, see the Victoria Chorale website. Book at Trybooking.

Research: Sleep in older adults