April 2026 Newsletter U3A Noosa is closed only for the Easter public holidays. All classes are at their normal times following Easter, unless your tutor has advised otherwise. Kathie has included Easter Trivia questions at the bottom of this newsletter. Be sure to scroll all the way down to test your knowledge of Easter. Help Needed Please – Calling all garden enthusiasts: We know some of our members are talented and passionate gardeners, and we are sending out a call for some volunteers to assist with the gardens at U3A Noosa. One member Jenny has been volunteering while the management committee searches for a suitable contractor. Meanwhile, we would like to hear from anyone else willing to assist with general garden maintenance, or some light landscaping. Any offers of help will be gratefully received and can be emailed to our president Lars here. Please don’t be shy, because we really do need some help here, and this is one way you can contribute to this great organisation we all love. Classes Timetable Are you enjoying the classes you enrolled for this year? Or perhaps circumstances have changed, and you need to update your enrolment/s? Please advise reception if you no longer wish to attend any class, or if there’s a class you might like to try. Some classes are already full, while others welcome new members anytime. (It’s essential to enrol first at reception.) Remember to check the website for the current timetable. You can find our timetable here. |
| Expressions of Interest AI Basics Class 2026 with John Grauer 10am – 12 noon Wednesdays, Commencing 22nd April to 27th May (6 weeks) Bring your own Computer It is essential that you register at reception OR Click here to register your interest in attending. 24 April: Department of Transport & Main Roads. Senior Driving Safety. 01 May: Darrel Roche: 1843 to 1871. The Wild Australian White Man. 15 May: Associate Professor Kevin Alford. Prominent scientists who contributed to the saving of human lives. 05 June: Associate Professor Kevin Alford. Changes in our environment and the major adverse effects on human health. 19 June: Darrel Roche: 570 to 632 Muhammad the Founder Of ISLAM. All talks commence at 1.30 sharp. Cash $3 or voucher includes a cup of tea or coffee and a biscuit or two. Visitors welcome. Click here for details of all Friday talks U3A Noosa Photography for Fun For this project, instructions were to edit three photos and show the before and after shots for each. It was great, and I have to say I learned a lot. these are the ‘before and after’ for one of my photos. Shirley Beall U3A Noosa BookChat Book Review The Safekeep by Yael Van Der Wouden Set in the Netherlands, this novel follows the story of a House, formerly occupied by a Jewish family, and the aftermath of a Jewish family being forced from their home by Nazi soldiers. The House is the centrepoint of this novel – who is the rightful owner, and how memories shape later events. An unconventional, torrid but beautiful love story ensues. This novel was shortlisted for the 2024 Booker Prize and won the Women’s Prize for Fiction. I enjoyed this book for its diversity of subject and freshness of approach. Coralie Waldron March, 2026 Introducing our U3A Noosa Volunteers U3A Noosa can only exist due to all the volunteers freely giving their time and expertise, as tutors, in admin or behind the scenes. Each month we feature one of our volunteers with these fun questions: Name: Lisa Murnane Position: Committee member Assistant Tutor, Mahjong Q1. What class at U3A Noosa do you (or would you) most like to attend? Mahjong, Watercolour, and Contemporary Acrylics—I’m drawn to both the social and creative aspects of these classes, and the opportunity to keep learning new skills. Q2. Do you have a nickname? I usually go by Lis rather than Lisa. Q3. What is the most adventurous thing you have done in life? At 21, I packed my bags and left my country town in Victoria to work in a bar in the Whitsunday Islands. What began as a leap into the unknown turned into six years of travelling and working across Queensland, the UK, and Europe. That experience shaped my sense of adventure and independence and ultimately led me to find—and settle in—my spiritual home here in Noosa. If you could have any superpower, what would it be? I would love the ability to fly—there’s something freeing about the idea of seeing the world from a different perspective and moving effortlessly above it all. If you could invite three people to dinner (living or passed), who would you choose? I would choose my grandmothers and great-grandmothers, as I would love the opportunity to hear more of their stories. I’m especially interested in their life experiences, the challenges they faced, and the wisdom they gained along the way. It would be incredibly meaningful to connect more deeply with my family history and honour the women who came before me. Is there something about your role here at U3A Noosa that you would like to share with the members? One of my core beliefs is that age is no barrier to friendship, and through U3A I’ve experienced just how true that is. I’ve formed some genuinely meaningful connections within this community, which I value deeply. As one of the younger members of U3A Noosa, I feel I bring a fresh perspective to the committee, while also learning so much from the wisdom and life experience of others. I’m excited to contribute to the continued growth and future success of this wonderful organisation. March Quiz Winner: The answer received from Tania Behan is sure to jog your memory about the March question: The British wore bright red uniforms because red dye was inexpensive for mass production. Which also made them easily identifiable from the enemy as well being an intimidating and powerful colour. Red also hid blood stains which could prevent panic from the troops. As fighting methods became more accurate with rifles and battle fields more open, being highly visible was a dangerous disadvantage. Khaki: light brown – tan with greenish hues was introduced to blend into the landscape providing basic camouflage. The word khaki comes from the Persian word Urdu which means dust coloured. I enjoyed researching the quiz questions. Many thanks, Tania Thank you Tania for such a comprehensive response. You can collect you book of five vouchers to attend classes from the ladies in Reception. April Quiz Question: Lisa has provided our quiz question, and it will really get the grey cells working. I am not alive, but I can grow. I don’t have lungs, but I need air. What am I? Answers can be emailed here. U3A Noosa Class News and Photo Gallery As you can see, the Solo Group went all out to celebrate with Liz for her birthday on the 11th March. The only problem is – her birthday was actually on St Patrick’s Day … a week later! Red faces all ‘round, but Liz was very gracious about the whole debacle and the good wishes from everyone were just as warm and sincere. It won’t happen next year Liz … promise !! Wendy Ivanusec Contemporary Acrylics We are seeing some inspiring works from the participants in our new art class, Contemporary Acrylics. Here are a few examples; and comments by the contributors What I’m really loving about these classes is the way Sancha opens the door to so many different techniques, each week offering something new to explore and experiment with. There’s a real sense of creative unfolding in the process. I’m especially enjoying being encouraged to loosen my style—to let go, trust the brush, and move in a more intuitive, free-flowing way. It feels both challenging and liberating. What I find most inspiring is that, even though we all begin from the same starting point, every person’s work evolves into something completely unique. It’s a beautiful reminder that creativity is deeply individual, and that each of us brings our own story to the canvas. Lisa Murnane Acrylic paint provides a medium to experiment with, paint over and add interesting layers of colour. I really liked starting with a watered down blue layer almost flowing like watercolours to create texture and organic shapes. Being abstract allows freedom to draw without thinking too much about what it “should” look like. I also like scratching into paint to reveal the colours underneath. A lot of fun. Ineke Acton Colour and Chat Colour and Chat is more than the name suggests. Our weekly get together includes colour in genres asides from pencils, plus a lovely morning tea and yes, plenty of chat. Sue Graham Sheila working on colouring a tote bag Robyn doing Diamond Art Tora making jewellery March Birthdays Celebrated. L-R Irene, Robyn, Denise and Jill (seated). Colour & Chat celebrates all birthdays for the month on the last Thursday. Now where’s the best spot for a birthday celebration? Chris Trickett says U3A Noosa Military History. Pictured 9 March with husband Brian. Belated happy birthday Chris. Local News Items of Interest SongKran Festival – The Thai Community of the Sunshine Coast invites everyone to celebrate the Thai New Year at the SongKran Cultural Festival to be held at Eumundi Markets on 19 April from 10am-4pm. The festival features the traditional Water Blessing ceremony and visitors can enjoy cultural performances and live music. A wide range of delicious food will also be available. Cooroy Butter Factory Arts Centre – Get the details on the current exhibitions here. Note that the new exhibition in the Members Gallery opens on 31 March. Closed Good Friday but open Saturday and Sunday this weekend from 9.30am-2.30pm. Regular trading days for the Arts Centre and Artisan shop are Tuesday to Sunday at times shown on their website. Noosa Libraries – What’s on, get the link here. Worm composting made easy. Cooroy Community Gardens. Find all the information and registration here. 15 Diamond Street Cooroy – Formerly The Spot Cafe. Are you a Freddys Fan? Enjoy this popular local band and support the new venue on 4 April 5-8pm. Do you live around the Peregian Beach area, love to stitch, and have some time on a Wednesday? Then perhaps this is for you: Peregian Beach Community House warmly invites you to join their stitching circle. Working on your own hand stitching meet and mingle with like minded people. Please click here for full details. Queensland Symphony Orchestra There are 7 seats left on the coach for Music on Sundays on 3rd May 2026 for the Spirit of the Violin concert. Tickets: The price is $139 including return coach fares (this is for both adult and concession). Pickup: For this concert, they are using Mystic Mountain tours, and their pickup points will be at Montville (approx 8.30am) and Nambour Train station (approx 9am). If anyone would like to attend, please email Paul Sweeney directly on paul.sweeney@qso.com.au to confirm your place and your preferred pickup point (either Montville or Nambour Train Station), along with your mobile phone number. Once they have the required number they will book the concert tickets and the bus, and confirm with you directly. Easter Trivia Question 1: Easter always falls between which two dates? Question 2: Is more variety of chocolate sold for Easter, Christmas, Valentine’s Day or Halloween Question 3: What animal delivers Easter eggs to kids in Switzerland? Question 4: Where is the most popular Easter parade held each year? Question 5: What’s the record weight for the largest chocolate Eater egg ever made? Question 6: In which Country do people traditionally have a water fight on Easter Monday? Question 7: What does the word “Easter” possibly derive from? Question 8: Which country is home to the world’s largest annual Easter egg hunt? Question 9 : In Australia, the Easter Bunny had a native rival. What animal is promoted instead and why? Question 10: What colour were the first dyed Easter eggs traditionally painted? The answers are provided at the bottom of the newsletter…but no peeking yet. Quote |
| Newsletter Team Liz Hansen Kathie Jordan Newsletter Editor Newsletter Producer We received most of the content for this newsletter from our wonderful members. A reminder that: If there’s something to share about your class, if you would like to invite more members to join your class, or if you have a story of interest to our members, then you need to reach out to me, Liz Hansen, your newsletter editor, by clicking here. Note: We can’t promote events or products that are for profit. We do however support charity events or sales if appropriate. Easter Triva Answers: March 22 and April 25 Halloween The cuckoo New York Over 7,000 kg Poland The Anglo-Saxon Goddess Eostre United States (Florida) The Easter Bilby because rabbits are considered pests and Bilbies help the ecosystem by creating burrows Red Copyright © 2026 U3A noosa, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you are a member of U3A noosa or have subscribed to the U3A newsletters Our mailing address is: U3A noosa 64 Poinciana Avenue Tewantin, Qld 4565 Australia Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. |
