The Wimmera’s most senior learners are preparing to start another year in the classroom at Horsham U3A.

The university, in the city’s old railway station on Railway Avenue, has started enrolments for its 2020 program, with the first slot of lessons to start on February 3.

Class co-ordinator Helen Fleming said the return of popular courses such as technology, art and Australian history were again common choices.

She said it had been the introduction of two new classes – a lunch group and sessions of the card game 500 – however, that generated the most interest at the university’s enrolment day last week.

“It was just expressions of interest for a lunch group, but that’s been one of the most popular, so it will definitely go ahead. It’s the one that really blew my mind,” she said. “500 is also new and has a lot of interest.”

Horsham U3A provides learning for about 300 students each year, with many returning to their favourite classes for companionship and continued opportunity to learn.

Among these students is Désirée Harkness, one of the original members who helped start U3A in Horsham.

She said while she was unable to do as many classes as she used to, she still signed up for a few each year, which included her favourite subjects of art and history.

“It’s the companionship. I think it’s a great organisation,” she said.

“It gets us older people together. We’ve still got a lot of go in us, you know, physically some of us aren’t too good, but mentally we are.”

– Lotte Reiter

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