U3A PONSONBY

It was an extraordinary event indeed for Ponsonby U3A when the October speaker, Catherine Hammond, talked by zoom about the extraordinary myriad of collections available at the Auckland War Memorial Museum, Tamaki Paenga Hira.

Catherine Hammond heads the Documentary Heritage Collections which number over three million items. These include paintings and drawings, photographs, archives, manuscripts, ephemera, publications, sound and moving image. Treasures include the Sir Edmund Hillary Collection and the first printed book in te reo Maori. New groups are forming all the time, but currently they are as follows:

Catherine’s team cares for, catalogues and curates this nationally and internationally significant collection. At the meeting, she introduced the work of the documentary heritage staff and volunteers and discussed the ways in which collecting recorded history is changing in the digital age. She left members with a thirst for exploring all important extension of minds and bodies. For example, Nancy Keat’s

further this remarkable collection at the museum. Tours are available, details of which are on the Museum website.

Prior to joining the Auckland Museum in 2019 Catherine was research librarian at the Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki. She holds a Master of Library and Information Studies and has worked on many projects covering New Zealand artists and feminist archives. Hers was a concise, warm, and engaging style of presentation. Guests are welcome to attend a monthly meeting at the St Columba Centre,

U3A member Helen Pearce was the ten-minute speaker outlining her role primary aim of the position was to improve participation in PPTA activities and facilitate promotion of women in secondary schools generally. Currently she acts as a consulting field officer on a relieving basis. the second Friday morning of the month from 10 to 12 noon. Invited guest speakers cover a diverse range of subjects as do the 10-minute speakers drawn from the talented membership.

Members are encouraged to join special interest groups of their choice where there is an exchange of ideas as members teach and learn from each other and importantly, where friendships are forged.

antiques and collectibles, appreciating architecture, armchair travellers, art history, bijou home cinema, concert going, current affairs, dining out, drawing, gallery visits, green fingers, history ad hoc, Mah Jong, Maori language te reo, music appreciation, New Zealand history, Pétanque, play reading, public art, ramblers, science, scrabble, ukulele and sing-along, well-being and writing.

Special interest group meetings of 10 or more people are held mainly in members’ homes. These groups, by their very nature, provide that Public Art Group takes participants all over Auckland City visiting notable art collections and sculptures in institutions and corporates. This involves a combination of appreciating our rich public art heritage and walking and catching buses and trains.

as the first Women’s Officer for the Post Primary Teachers’ Association. The but are asked to first telephone Philippa Tait on M: 027 452 3108.

Speaker for the November meeting will be Professor Stephen Hoadley, “Is the 2020 US Presidential election a geopolitical turning point?” (CHRISTINE HART)  PN

In November, Ponsonby U3A is hoping to return to face-to-face meetings. In the meantime, Zoom has kept members in touch with each other and alive to new opportunities, not to mention learning a new skill.

Ponsonby U3A has approximately 180 members that meet monthly (under normal conditions) at the St Columba Centre, 40 Vermont St, Ponsonby on NEXT MEETING:

ENQUIRIES: 10am Friday 13 November at St Columba Centre, 40 Vermont Street, Ponsonby.

Philippa Tait, President Ponsonby U3A T: 027 452 3108, www.u3a.nz

The vision at St Columba

Every Friday for three years now, St Columba has been a haven for members of the local community by providing manaaki, a safe place and hot lunch.

Most weeks, on average, 35-45 people turn up to enjoy the warmth of the sun through the expanse of north-facing windows, and the whanaungatanga, kinship, and companionship of others who have become friends over many months. It is a safe, nurturing space that has become the go-to place on a Friday - and many other days.

And now, St Columba’s vision is to reconfigure its community centre to ensure it will perform to its full potential, not only for the continuation of the Friday haakari, but for the many individuals and groups who use the facility for classes for adults and children, counselling, advocacy, music, dance, public meetings, sport, birthday parties, wedding receptions, and exhibitions.

With the hall and front deck upgraded, a commercial standard kitchen, and a reconfiguration of the bathroom facilities to house individual all-gender toilets and a shower, the St Columba Community Centre will be well-positioned to serve the local community for decades to come.

Rev’d Brent Swann, Vicar of St Columba, says, “We have received generous offers of expertise and skills for this vision, and now is the right time for us to begin our planning in earnest. The Corona virus has held us up for months, and we are excited to see the path open up before us now.”

Photography Sammy Ho w3.

Here is what they told Ponsonby News about vaping. They tell us their job is to help all smokers quit smoking.

Want to quit smoking? It’s difficult to quit smoking cigarettes, so we need you to consider vaping as an alternative to replace your smoking habits. We wouldn’t say vaping is completely harmless but vaping will reduce the harmfuless by 95%; you will also save money.

Vaping has helped millions of people around the world to quit smoking.

Is vaping dangerous? Vaping is when you turn an E-juice into a vapor through a device that you inhale and exhale.

Pros: experts say it is 95% less harmful than smoking. There are no odours. You get to choose what nicotine strength and flavours you want.

Cons: no smoking, no vaping will be the best option for you. We recommend you aim to quit vaping eventually.

What are E-juices made of? E-juice (E-liquid) is made up of four basic ingredients.

VG (Vegetable Glycerine) and PG (Propylene Glycol) is generally used for medical products, pet food, beauty products, food such as baked goods, to increase moisture etc.

Flavouring helps to intensify tastes like fruit, dessert, mint, tobacco etc. The flavourings are all safe to inhale. Lastly nicotine, the addictive ingredient, makes people continue to smoke cigarettes.

Can someone under 18 purchase vape products? All vape products are prohibited for purchase to anyone under 18. We strictly follow this policy.

Can Urban Vape help me to choose the right product? Yes, that’s what we have been doing for the past five years. Our team have a wide range of knowledge and we recommend the best products to help you quit smoking. Our passion is to encourage all smokers to quit smoking.  PN

URBAN VAPE, 164 Ponsonby Road, T: 09 360 1188, www.urbanvape.co.nz