U3A: a quest for learning in the third age of life
Around two dozen U3A-ers went on Geoff Rennison’s geology field trip up the Cobb. Photo: Gerard Hindmarsh.
Golden Bay’s University of the Third Age, U3A, has nothing to do with a campus, professors and obtaining a degree. Rather it’s a university in the original sense of the word – a community of people, in this case people over the age of 50, who are learning or following a particular activity for their own sake. It’s about exploring new things of interest when there’s more time to do just that.
In the latest U3A talk last Tuesday, Helen Kingston spoke about the spotted shags of Tata Beach.
U3A committee member Charles Naylor says the Golden Bay group has been going for five years and now has around 120 members.
“Initially it was envisaged for retired people, but it’s grown to include members who are as young as 50. Topics studied have included everything from comparative religions to music listening, play reading to musicals and music listening, Shakespeare to scientific subjects like geology and NZ’s small world [insects], which get held in the field. You only join the groups that interest you so it stays highly motivated. Even though it’s all largely informal, everything we study is supposed to have some sort of learning component to it.”
Retired principal John Weston has been the convenor of the Comparative Religions group that has met monthly for the last two years. Nineteen turned up once, but average attendance numbers around 12, with participants taking turns to host the daytime meets in their homes.
John says that when they first started meeting together, they all generally fell into the “questioning Christian” category. They have now studied Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism.
“All the discussions we’ve had have served in differing degrees to redefine our beliefs and perceptions. It’s been a really valuable progression for us all. If I had to say how, it’d probably be that we now aspire to a ‘greener’ religious philosophy, one that incorporates the planet more.”
One coup by the local U3A was bringing humanist Lloyd Geering over twice from Wellington to talk at meetings open to the community. His “Christianity without God” message certainly stimulated lots of long-term discussion.
U3A derives from the words “University of the Third Age”, and had its beginnings in France in the mid-seventies. It has now spread to many countries and has many tens of thousands of members throughout the world. It’s a response to the idea that human life is divided into three periods: firstly, childhood and schooling; secondly, child-rearing and work; thirdly, retirement or semi-retirement.
Says Charles Naylor: “This third age provides an important opportunity for listening, learning, and understanding. It’s about middle-aged or older people being involved in a university that’s a community of those seeking a greater understanding of life.”
Joining U3A costs $15 per annum. Membership application forms are available from treasurer Aileen Hunt, at 525 7345.
Gerard Hindmarsh
