‘You’re never too old to learn’: U3A Redcliffe

Published 12:00pm 8 May 2024

Words by Nadia Chapman

For a third of the price of a cup of coffee and a small annual fee, seniors in the community can learn to their hearts’ content.

U3A stands for ‘University of the Third Age’ and is an international movement that provides education to mostly retired members of the community for a small fee.

U3A Redcliffe was first founded in 1987 by Olive McKee and started with only 62 members and 18 classes.

Now more than 30 years later, the organisation offers 120 classes per week and has more than 1600 members; making U3A Redcliffe the largest over-50s organisation on the peninsula.

U3A Redcliffe’s Community Engagement Officer Greg McGrath says there are a variety of exciting classes happening this year.

“We have half a dozen different language classes – Italian, French, German, Latin, you name it,” Greg says.

“We have art and craft classes, discussion groups, wine appreciation classes…A lot of history ones (as well)…

“We do different kinds of yoga classes, meditation classes, line dancing groups, a carpet bowls group on a Friday afternoon, a couple of groups who play cards…

“There’s a guy that teaches origami, we’ve got about six different music classes, a couple of choirs and singing groups and then we’ve got the groups that learn guitar…”

There is a $25 per year fee to become a member of U3A Redcliffe, with 95 percent of classes being $2.

On-site classes aren’t the only thing that U3A Redcliffe offers to members.

“Outside the classes, we have bus trips and boat trips… we do whale watching and go up to the Sunshine Coast and down to the Gold Coast…” Greg explains.

“We have special social events as well, of course. We have a concert where all the different music groups get to perform once a year.

“There’s really something for everybody…If you don’t keep the mind going along with the body, you get old quicker than you really need to.”

U3A Redcliffe is open from Monday-Friday, 8.30am-4pm at 1 Irene St, Redcliffe.

For more information, visit the website or phone 3284 2687.