What is U3A

The word ‘University’ is not of the traditional bricks and mortar learning institutes but a stage of life.
University of the 1st Age (U1A): was your school years
University of the 2nd Age (U2A): was your working years
University of the 3rd Age (U3A): are your retirement years.

How Did The Maitland Idea Begin?
The idea for a U3A in Maitland came to Wendy Pearson while holidaying on the Mekong, where she met some folks from Newcastle involved with U3A. They were enjoying so many activities and so enthusiastic. Wendy came home and suggested starting one in Maitland. The NSW U3A Network, Keryl Collard from Maitland Library and Maitland councillor Loretta Baker offered their assistance. So it all began.

U3A Maitland currently has 294 active members and run 42 courses/activities over the year. We cover the Hunter Valley region and our members are generally within Maitland and it’s surrounding townships. Our members come from:

These are some real member quotes:

• ‘U3A helps to bring people together and embark on a learning adventure with like-
  minded people’
• ‘Changed my life for the better giving me a place to come on my own and try new
  things without any fear of being judged’
• ‘My friends kept asking me, so I joined and haven’t looked back, it filled my life’
• ‘I moved to a new area and decided to join a few groups to get to know people, the
  U3A offered the most and now takes up most of my time’
• ‘Being part of the group makes me happy… learning and interacting with others
  gives me a lot of satisfaction’
• ‘It provides opportunities to use skills acquired earlier in life in ways that are useful
  and does wonders for one’s self esteem’
• ‘I have developed a much higher opinion of people older than me… it’s changed my
  perception’
• ‘I met people who wanted to go with me for coffee, who wanted to talk to me, I
  have made good friends’
• ‘I had a knee operation and got seriously ill. The closer U3A friends supported me,
  brought me cards, but everyone else asked how I was and checked I was ok.’
• ‘When you’ve worked all your life, how do you fill your life? You could sit within 4
  walls… instead I have found new friendships and new experiences’
• ‘I always liked photography but it was difficult while working. Now I can learn with
  like-minded people’
• ‘Meeting interested and interesting people at U3A has enhanced my life’
• ‘There was a time when I didn’t want to go outside, and then when I was out it took
  a lot to get back in again. I found coming to the U3A I met people who had been in
  the same situation or worse and shared experiences’
• ‘The passing of my wife broke me, leaving me with nothing more than an
  overwhelming desire to become a recluse. I joined the U3A and now I’m surrounded
  by recluses of every shape, size & denomination. Thanks U3A for making my life
  special once more’
• ‘It saved my life’
• ‘Participating in the U3A offers a new future’
• I love contributing to the growth of the U3A. My Mum was a founder member of a
  U3A in the 1980s and I always knew I would get involved. It was almost the first
  thing I did after retiring.’
• ‘I love the ethos of the U3A, using the skills of members as both teachers and
  learners and focussing on the positives of getting older, rather than, as so often
  happens the negatives!’
• ‘The more you put into U3A, the more you get out of it’
• ‘U3A is an ideal way of meeting new folks, stretching yourself and having fun along
  the way’
• ‘It’s never too late to learn something new, make friends and have fun. Join the
  University of the Third Age!’