NOTICE BOARD
Upcoming Special Presentations
Thursday 17th July 2025, 1:15pm. Vodka in a Vegemite Jar - Trevor Hamley, City Campus, 232 Adelaide St.
Upcoming Social Events
Wednesday 9 July 2025, 1:00pm. Jesus Christ Superstar, Lyric Theatre, QPAC.
Wednesday 16 July 2025, 10:00am. Chung Tian Buddhist Temple, 1034 Underwood Road Priestdale.
Wednesday 23 July 2025, 1:00pm. Jesus Christ Superstar Group 2, QPAC Concert Hall.
Thursday 29 January 2026, 1:00pm. Annie, Lyric Theatre.

Upcoming Special Presentations
Vodka in a Vegemite Jar

Presenter: Trevor Hamley
Venue: City Campus, 232 Adelaide St.
In 1983, Trevor Hamley embarked on a 3,000km Soviet Antarctic return over-snow traverse from Mirny to Dome C. In his memoir, Trevor reveals how fate and a touch of destiny propelled him towards this unique experience, including a visit to Vostok- the coldest place on Earth.
At every turn, the Dome C traverse was beset by adversity yet achieved its scientific objectives. Mechanical and scientific equipment succumbed to the harsh Antarctic conditions, where temperatures plunged to minus sixty degrees centigrade. An appendectomy was performed 1,000km from the safety of a permanent station, an unprecedented feat in the annals of Antarctic expeditions. Each leg of the journey became an exhilarating episode. But the narrative does not merely recount the logistical aspects of the traverse; it delves into the intricacies of glaciology and the profound issue of our time: climate change.
In Vodka in a Vegemite Jar, Trevor skilfully intertwines the thrill of exploration with challenging human experiences. He tells us about an extraordinary opportunity and cross-cultural friendship.
Author Biography
Trevor Hamley is the author of Vodka in a Vegemite Jar – an Australian on a Soviet Antarctic Expedition. After finishing a degree in Civil Engineering at Monash University, Trevor joined the Australian Antarctic Division as a Glaciologist - to winter at Casey in 1978. He then commenced a career in engineering construction before re-joining the Antarctic Division to participate in a Soviet Antarctic Expedition in 1983/84. Trevor completed a Master of Science degree in Glaciology at Melbourne University in 1987. He is a life-long enthusiast of outdoor activities and lives in Brisbane with his wife Kerry-Lynne with whom he has two sons and three grandchildren.
Current Bookings: 1 (Maximum: 50)
Register for this Event
Current Classes
Class Schedule for Term 3 2025 is now active and enrolments are open. Term 2 finishes on Friday 27 June and Term 3 commences on Monday 14 July.
To join a new class, enrol through the Class Search page by clicking on the Enrol button, or contact the tutor directly. If you book online you may assume your enrolment is accepted unless the tutor advises otherwise.
If you are enrolled in a Term 2 class that you wish to continue attending in Term 3, you can use the Member Dashboard to re-enrol.
2025 Term dates:
Term | From | To | Weeks |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Tue 28-Jan | Fri 4-Apr | 10 |
2 | Tue 22-Apr | Fri 27-Jun | 10 |
3 | Mon 14-Jul | Fri 19-Sep | 10 |
4 | Tue 7-Oct | Fri 12-Dec | 10 |
Exhibition Holiday Brisbane: Wednesday 13 August
Exhibition Holiday Logan: Monday 11 August
U3A Brisbane Strategic Plan 2025-2028
The Strategic Plan for 2025-28 has been developed by the Management Committee and key U3A leaders. It is available here:
Strategic Plan 2025-2028
4BC Interview with Deslyn Taylor, President U3A Brisbane
This 9-minute interview with Sofie Formica was broadcast on 4BC Brisbane on 28 January 2025. It is about connecting seniors with Lifelong Learning, with particular emphasis on creative arts classes and the social benefits of being part of the U3A community.
(Acknowledgement: 4BC Brisbane)
Nine News segment about U3A Brisbane
This segment was broadcast on Brisbane Channel 9 News Seniors Report by Bruce Paige on 5 July 2024.
(Acknowledgement: 9News Brisbane)
The classes shown were Lily Buttigieg's J218 Spanish Continuing and Bruce Holdsworth's E16 Politics and the Economy - Hopes and Fears, both Wednesday classes at 232 Adelaide St.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 16 APRIL 2025

The Annual General Meeting of The University of the Third Age Brisbane Inc. was held online at 10.00am on Wednesday 16 April 2024.
AGM 2025 Documents
The following reports and documents are available:
2025 AGM Agenda
2024 AGM Minutes
Financial Report for the year ended 31 December 2024
Management Committee Nominations 2025
President's Report
Treasurer's Report
The Management Committee for 2025/26 elected at the AGM is as follows.
President | Deslyn Taylor | |
Vice-President | Sharyn Johns | |
Treasurer | Robert Forrest | |
Secretary | Rod McLary | |
Member | Lyndall Beattie | |
Member | John Galligan | |
Member | Cheryl Hayden | |
Member | Gail Hawkins |
President: Deslyn Taylor |
Vice-President: Sharyn Johns |
Treasurer: Robert Forrest |
Secretary: Rod McLary |
Member Lyndall Beattie |
Member John Galligan |
Member Cheryl Hayden |
Member Gail Hawkins |
Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is here, and anyone can use it. In order to assist U3A members in understanding AI, we have developed a resource to provide practical information on using the various AI tools publicly available, and to outline some of the thorny social issues AI presents:
The technology has advanced more quickly than expected, and has the potential to reshape our world. This resource page is offered primarily to provide information about the numerous ways in which AI can currently be used. In the longer term, there are philosophical and even existential considerations, but the more we know about practical AI, the better we will be equipped to understand the deeper issues for humanity.
We are running various presentations on AI as part of this educational process. Tutors and Members are encouraged to explore the creative opportunities of AI.
U3A Network Qld Video
This 5-minute video has been produced by U3A Network Qld to promote the benefits of U3A membership.
Social Events
See Social Events page for details of social events organised by our Social Events Team.
Monthly eNews
To keep our members up to date with current and important information, we produce monthly e-newsletters and those are sent to members on our Email mailing list. For details of our classes and timetable, we produce a quarterly Class Schedule issued two weeks before the end of each term.
Recent Issues
2025
June 2025
May 2025
April 2025
March 2025
February 2025
Prior Years
U3A Discussion Forum
U3A Brisbane now has a Discussion Forum, mainly intended for members to discuss class content with each other. In order to access the forum, members who have not otherwise registered a password as Tutor or staff Volunteer need to firstly:
Register a username and password via Website Registration. Make sure you respond to the security email otherwise the password won't be registered. If you ever forget your password, you can re-set it via the same process.
Once you have a username and password:
1. Login to the system: Login Procedure
2. Go to Members menu that will then show on the sidebar on the right and select Discussion Forum.
Tutors may request a new forum category for their class. See Discussion Forum explanatory page for more information.
Remote Learning
U3A Brisbane recommends Zoom videoconferencing to tutors who do not wish to conduct face-to-face classes. Many tutors are successfully running their classes online at present. This facility will not be appropriate to all classes but should suit those classes where presentations are typically made. It is very easy to use and we encourage all members to join these sessions online when invited by the tutor.Closed Captions are optionally available in Zoom sessions for those members who need them.
Zoom - Tutor Instructions
Email Discussion Groups
U3A Brisbane is also recommending that tutors consider setting up an Email Discussion Group. This enables class members to join the group for interactive discussion.
Discussion Group Instructions (for tutors)
COVID Safe Plans
U3A Brisbane is required to have COVID-19 Safety plans in place iin order to offer face-to-face classes. Tutors should contact the relevant District Coordinator if you wish to conduct a face-to-face class.
COVID Safe Plan - City Campus 2023COVID Safe Plan - District Classes 2023
Network News
U3A Brisbane is a member of the U3A Queensland Network, which produces occasional Network Newsletters.