THE BLOOMSBURY GROUP 

Course Leader
Dr Helen Long Contact Win Jodell, 5472 3792

Outline of Course
In the early twentieth century a group of friends formed strong bonds and went on to make significant contributions to the literary, artistic and intellectual life of Great Britain. We will explore the wonderful record they left of their work, their lives and their loves. No homework but reading encouraged and facilitated.

Entry Criterion
None – just interest, curiosity and desire to learn.

Meeting Time
Six sessions: 2pm on alternate Tuesdays, starting 7 June (session length 2 hours)

Venue
49 Hargreaves Street, Castlemaine

Note
This is a Short Course - 6 sessions

 

ENGLISH LITERATURE

Course Leader
Denise Jepson 5473 4470

Outline of Course
The course in 2011 will cover Australian literature, including writers such as Patrick White, Christina Stead, Katherine Susannah Pritchard, Henry Handel Richardson, Xavier Herbert, Eleanor Dark and Alexis Wright. It will be introduced by the course leader, who will facilitate discussion.

Entry Criterion
A willingness to read the set books and take part in discussion

Meeting Time
10am each second Friday of the month (session length 2 hours)

Venue
Leisterville common room, William Street/James Street. Castlemaine

 

ETHICS 

Course Leader
Karen Mather 9347 6925

Outline of Course
This course is designed for beginners. The first session presents an introduction to ethics, including the principals of Aristotle, Kant and Bentham, together with the method of reasoning employed by professional ethicists. The remaining sessions provide overviews of special branches of ethics: Professional Ethics, in relation to work; Environmental Ethics and the dilemma of human need versus the needs of the natural environment; and finally an ethicist’s approach to the problems of world poverty.

Entry criteria
None

Meeting Time
Four sessions: 10.30am each Thursday, 5, 12, 19 & 26 May (length 1.5 hours)

Venue
U3A office

Note
This is a Short Course - 4 sessions

 

LET’S READ A PLAY

Course Leader
Barrie King and Trish King 5470 5514

Outline of Course
Each fortnight our group reads a play, either a drama or a comedy, from a wide range of authors. Everyone who chooses to can participate in the reading of the play. It is very enjoyable to be able to have the story unfold and reach its conclusion at each session – so come along and give it a try. Payment of $3 per session covers hire of plays and postage of scripts

Entry Criterion
None.

Expectation of Participants
Payment of $3 per session to cover hire of plays and morning tea

Meeting Time
10am each second and fourth Monday of the month. (session length 2-3 hours)

Venue
3 Saint Street, Castlemaine (tea & coffee provided) Start date 21 February

 

MEMOIR WRITING

Course Leader
Elizabeth Rider 5470 5681

Outline of Course
Writing memoirs is a weekly session. Members of the group bring their writing in manuscript form to the group for constructive feedback and suggestions. There is a maximum of eight members in the group. The course encourages members to develop their writing skills and to build up a folder of their memoirs for whatever final outcome they choose. A high level of confidentiality is expected from members. The goup is fully subscribed with eight continuing from 2010 at this time.

Entry Criterion
An interest in writing and stimulating memories of past events, places and people.

Meeting Time
1.30pm every Thursday (session length 2.5 hours)

Venue
Private homes

 

WRITING YOUR LIFE

Course Leader
Sally Berridge 5472 4048

Outline of Course
Autobiography’s usual inclusions are the stories of self and others that make up a life. Hanging off these are the clinging, transparent trails of memory and the sticky tentacles of identity. Our life stories contain dimensions of biography, of cultural narratives, of culture(s), of history, of family objects, and of landscapes. These sessions will provide an opportunity for participants to do some autobiographical work. We can be as serious or as light hearted as we wish. There will be ideas on how to get started as well as how to keep going. For example, we can look at photographs, family objects, music, landscapes and poetry as holders of our memories and as starting points for aspects of our life stories. From the beginning we will respect each other’s privacy.

Entry Criterion
Keenness to do some life writing and to discover interesting ways to tell our stories.

Meeting Time
1.30pm every Wednesday (session length 2 hours)

Venue
Fellowship Room, Uniting Church complex