CoM

I was born in England just after WW2 and grew up just North of London. I trained to be a Nursery Nurse, working in both the hospital and nursery school environment.

After I married, we lived and worked in a typical English market town until the later seventies, when we decided to leave England to try life in Australia. We arrived in the early eighties and settled in Ringwood. Here we became active members of the local Scout troupe, and my husband joined Apex, and this was the beginning of my volunteering career.

My husband died after we moved to Port Melbourne, and looking for something to occupy my time when I was not working, I joined the Port Phillip Lions Club.  I became Secretary and then President and remained in this role until the club had to close due to a lack of members. I was also invited to join OPAC (Older Persons Advisory Committee), I remained on this committee until the Local Government Elections in 2024, whilst we waited for the new council to decide on the future direction of their Advisory Committees.

I retired just prior to Covid, planning to spend my time traveling the world. I had also discovered U3A by then and what a life saver it turned out to be during this time, I’d log on to watch lessons on the many topics on offer.  Then suddenly we were free to rejoin the world, and we could meet members face to face rather than just see their heads on screen. It was in one of these sessions that Ros Christie asked me to join her Event’s Team, which I did. This made me think about volunteering for the Management Committee, as being on Ros’ team makes you realise all the behind the scenes work that goes on to run U3APP and this is the reason that I am submitting my name for consideration for a committee role.

I retired in 2023 after almost 50 years working across both the education and health sectors across public and private spheres.

I joined U3APP in 2024 to pursue my lifelong interest in learning by joining my first book group, participating in Friday film discussions, and learning to play Mahjong as well as joining Saturday seminars via zoom.

I am a regular attendee of films, theatre, ballet and music performances and also a regular visitor to galleries and museums.  I also enjoy Pilates walking and swimming weekly.

I have lived with my family in Balaclava since 1981 and look forward to the opportunity to continue to expand my horizons and contribute to my local U3APP.

Peter Barry is a retired general medical practitioner. He graduated from Monash University with a Science degree before transferring to Medicine. He has an MBBS from Monash, a postgraduate degree from the Royal College of Physicians (London). He is interested in literature, politics. He is currently enrolled in German and French language classes at U3A as well as Pétanque and Current Issues. He was treasurer of The Probus Club of Port Melbourne for four years.

Helen retired in 2025 after over 30 years in the education sector. Initially working as a primary school teacher and then moving into higher education management and operations, consulting, and coaching. She joined U3APP in 2024, to continue her learning journey and to play pickleball. Since then, she has added yoga, meditation, and walking to her interests. Helen volunteers on the Course Co-ordination Team.

I have been a member of U3A Port Phillip for the past 7 years.  I am a practicing artist, and my last solo exhibition was about Nature’s Resilience with more recent joint exhibitions being held at Gasworks Art Park in Albert Park. I am currently the watercolour tutor at U3A on a Friday morning with about 40 students – both face to face and on Zoom. I have been the tutor for this class for about 6 years. I also teach watercolour at other venues.

My background is in science with post graduate qualifications in science (biochemistry and climate change) and education. I continue to work to ensure strong action is taken for our future and I am well acquainted with sustainable practices having established and directed a research and teaching centre in 2002 at Swinburne University on sustainability and climate change. Several research papers and studies were published relating to community engagement, behaviour change and sustainability. Now semi-retired, Linda is still involved at the community level on action for climate change as a member of Port Phillip Emergency Climate Action Network (PECAN), Progressive Port Phillip (PPP) and Electrify Southside.

Virginia retired in 2023 after working for 45 years in the health industry. She’s passionate about health and fitness and keeps active with tennis, golf, and weekly Pilates—and has been rowing at the Y Rowing Club in Albert Park for the past 18 years. Since joining U3APP in 2024 with her husband to learn Italian, she’s embraced the joys of language, community, and lifelong learning. She’s the membership secretary of her rowing club, a proud member of the local Dig Inn community garden, and the editor of its newsletter—ensuring both her green thumb and pen get a workout. She also enjoys regular dinners with friends sharing good wine and laughter - Virginia is living proof that retirement is just a new beginning.

I was born in Den Haag, the Netherlands. My Dutch-Indonesian parents migrated to the Netherlands from Indonesia after WW2. My family and I migrated to Perth, Australia when I was 1 years of age.

When I left school, I completed my Jewellers’ Apprenticeship at Mytton Rodd (Grosvenor) in St Kilda and  attended Collingwood Technical School. I was one of very few female apprentices at the time in an all male dominated space.

 I ended up transitioning into a Trainee Computer Operator role at Melbourne University.  I progressed into a Senior Computer Operator role.

I took a career break and focused on  raising my 3 children. I returned to the workforce, taking on various jobs until I found my niche working in the Aged Care sector. It was here that I first learned of U3A and would recommend their courses to my clients. I later ended up transitioning into the Case Management sector, working for some of the bigger service providers in Australia.

Since retiring, I joined U3APP and commenced volunteering with both U3APP and the Phillip Community Group. I assist in reception and support paid staff with people of all backgrounds in the community.

In addition to the above, I am also the Member Liaison Representative and a member of the Office Management Team.

I have enjoyed being a member of U3A. I currently run a Tuesday night film group and attend ukulele, watercolour painting and dance classes. 

I’m a mechanical engineer with a background in industry covering a range of research, operations and management positions. This was followed by a long career in the management of innovation and commercialisation of R&D, involving bridging research and industry, and taking an active role in spin-off company formation, management and governance. I have served on several government granting bodies such as Commercialisation Australia and the Clean Technology Investment Committee. I retired as director of Swinburne’s commercialisation unit in 2015.

I’m married to Kerry and we have 4 children and 9 grandchildren. We live in South Melbourne.

I enjoying cycling, and am a keen open water swimmer, and swim regularly all year with the Brighton Icebergers, and normally enter several of the annual open water swims.

James Walter is an active member of U3APP and has contributed as a tutor and, on several occasions, as a presenter for our Saturday seminars. He has been a long-term participant in the Beaut Ukes, Petanque and Friday Film classes. He is Emeritus Professor of Politics at Monash University. While maintaining an active research and teaching profile, he also engaged throughout his academic career in senior university management roles, as a Head of School, Faculty Dean, Head of Centre and Pro Vice Chancellor. He has served terms as President of the Australian Political Studies Association, and of the International Australian Studies Association, on the Executive of the Academy of Social Sciences, on the Australia China Council and on the Board of the National Archives. James has enjoyed his contributions as a tutor, presenter and participant in U3A activities. Given his prior experience, he is aware of the committee load and administrative demands needed to maintain such a lively organization. He is nominating for the Committee to assist in meeting those demands.

I worked for Telstra for 32 years as an electrical engineering manager working on new technology introduction, followed by three years working for Alcatel-Lucent as a telecommunications consultant around Asia. A ruptured brain aneurysm in 2010 ended with 6 months in hospital/rehabilitation and brought on early retirement. I joined U3A Port Phillip (U3APP) in 2011. I later served on the Committee of Management for 3 years in the capacity of treasurer and I continue to provide assistance on computer and audio-visual needs arising at U3APP.

I undertake extensive volunteer work with the Australian Stroke Foundation, including giving stroke talks to a wide range of community groups. I also do volunteer work with the Safer Care Victoria organisation and participate in a range of stroke-related research projects. I recently joined the Older Persons Advisory Group (OPAG) of the Council of Port Phillip and have rejoined the U3A Committee of Management to provide a regular communication channel between OPAC and U3APP. I have three children and six grandchildren who range in age from 5 to 18, have travelled extensively in recent years and enjoy my Telsa Model Y electric vehicle acquired in 2022.