About Mature Age Learning in Horsham

History

In 1988, four years after the U3A movement got off the ground in Melbourne, it came to Horsham. With the assistance of people like Diane Kosch & John Hart from Wimmera TAFE, a public meeting was held on 21 March 1988 with 40 people attending. A steering committee was formed and the inaugural meeting was held on 19 September 1988.

1989 was the first full year of programs with classroom and office space being supplied by Wimmera TAFE in the old Horsham West Primary School building. The next year TAFE offered the use of a portable classroom in the grounds of the old Horsham Technical School along with office and photocopying support.

In 1993, TAFE reclaimed the classroom for their own needs and U3A moved to the Education Support Centre in McLachlan St. Wimmera HUB was also located there and a good working relationship with them was established.

In 1995 contacts were made with Adult Community Further Education (ACFE) and Horsham U3A became an ACFE provider attracting ACFE funding. This meant keeping records of student contact hours, categories etc. Jim Amos volunteered to pick up this area and has proven instrumental in sourcing funds from grants of various kinds since then.

The room at the Education Support Centre was being outgrown so in 1996 the committee successfully applied to Horsham Rural City Council for the lease of the old Horsham Railway Station building. We moved into it in December with the help of ACFE, Horsham Rural City Council, Skillshare and Sport & Recreation to refurbish and furnish the rooms. It has been our 'home' since then though some classes are held in other places.

Computer Training

Computer training has been offered with the assistance of HUB. During 1997 we acquired an Internet connection at the Railway Station. Since then various grants have allowed us to have a network of 6 computers running Microsoft XP with a broadband connection along with a laptop and projector for use in computer and other classes. More advanced computer classes and public access were then able to be offered. The growing interest of older people in technology has made these a worthwhile project.

In 2007 Horsham U3A became a member of the Australian Computer Clubs Association (ASCCA). This membership allows us access to a network of computer clubs and the information and special privileges that can be had by banding together as a group of clubs eg representation to government bodies, discounts to be had for clubs from software, hardware and learning groups etc.

ACFE

We have continued our association with ACFE although government funding is now through the State Office of Older Persons via the U3A Network. We have also continued an association with the Victorian U3A Network that started at the beginning.

Thank you

We have been thankful for the continued support also of Horsham Rural City Council, Sport and Recreation, Ballarat University, Wimmera Mail Times, The Advertiser and a multitude of other groups and individuals over the 19 years of our existence.

We are also grateful to the U3A members and tutors who have led us during this time—people like Fred Shepherd, Joy Haslam, Virgie Easson, Irene Matthews, Jack Gillespie, Jim Amos, Dorothy Duncan and many, many more who have kept Horsham and District U3A up and running.