THE University of the Third Age (U3A) Active Listening to Music class has been operating in Ocean Grove for 25 years.
The group held a 25-year anniversary concert at St Peter’s Anglican Church Hall in Ocean Grove to celebrate, with about 60 in attendance.
Four Order of Australia Medal recipients were in attendance: Marget Hughes, Wendy Galloway, Dr Malcolm John and Val MacKenzie.
Margaret has been the tutor of the group since 2005, ably assisted by Malcolm and Anne.
Past and present class members enjoyed a fabulous concert performed by Wendy Galloway OAM (violinist), Vicky Hallett (clarinettist), Dr Malcolm John OAM (pianist and vocals), Anne Pilgrim (pianist), Val MacKenzie OAM (vocals) and John Hanan (vocals).
In the early days the class was held in people’s homes and, when numbers began to increase, it moved to St Peter’s where it has remained, and now has 60 members.
U3A Geelong was established in 1986, beginning with 190 members. It now has 922 members, 62 voluntary tutors, and 94 classes.
In 1990 several classes commenced on the Bellarine. At present, classes are held in Portarlington, Queenscliff and Torquay, as well as in Ocean Grove.
The concert was followed by a luncheon at the Ocean Grove Hotel.
