How hard can this be? That was the thought of 18 U3A members who recently attended their first ukulele lesson.
It is the newest special-interest group at Ponsonby U3A and has been formed for fun and enjoyment, and with the aim of providing entertainment for the U3A Christmas luncheon.
Meanwhile learning the chords of C, F and G7 is all consuming, let alone learning to strum in style.
Ukulele is one of 18 special interest groups at Ponsonby U3A. The groups are regarded as the lifeblood of the U3A movement, providing members with opportunities to learn without pressure and to socialise with like minded people who are reaching or have reached retirement age. A wide range of topics is available from art history to science, petanque to dining out. As well as ukulele, recent new groups include poetry, concert -going and science.
Ponsonby U3A meets on the second Friday morning of each month. As well as reports from the convenors of the special-interest groups there is a guest speaker and a 10 -minute speaker from within U3A.
April’s 10-minute speaker was former academic Dr Helen Bernstone with a topic familiar to many U3A members - the transition from being employed full time for 45 years to becoming ‘career free’, or “my journey from one identity to another.” She described her two and a half year transition “from the best job in the world at Flinders University (equilibrium), to returning home to a life in Auckland without structure (disequilibrium) and the consequential return for her to a state of equilibrium.” Reaching that state was one of challenge, exploration and developing insights from which she emerged to a state of equilibrium - and a new identity.
The question posed by the guest speaker Gillian Eadie from the Memory Foundation was “How are you protecting your memory?” She introduced recent discoveries in the field of memory and strategies for building new brain connections as a buffer against memory loss in later life. Memory Foundation programmes are based on the internationally acclaimed research into age-related memory loss by her sister, Dr Allison Lamont, who has her memory clinic in St Heliers. Gillian, who is co-founder and managing director of the Memory Foundation, had an important message to share as she stepped members through some memory tests and gave simple strategies to integrate into daily living.
Guest Speaker for the May meeting will be Matt Ball, Head of Communications, Ports of Auckland. The 10-minute speaker will be U3A member Annie Webster unravelling the mysteries of the world-first virtual U3A Online. (PHILIPPA TAIT)
NEXT MEETING: 10am, Friday 12 May at Herne Bay Petanque Club, Salisbury Street Reserve, Herne Bay.
ENQUIRIES: Collene Roche, President, Ponsonby U3A, T: 09 373 3277,
www.u3aponsonby.org.nz