09/07/2026
A MESSAGE FROM OUR PRESIDENT:
A Surprise Visit to Campus -
There is nothing quite like enjoying a relaxing visit with friends at Mt Tamborine when an early Monday morning phone call changes your plans!
The call came from the office of the Honourable Emma Comer MP, Federal Member for Petrie with unexpected news: the Deputy Prime Minister (currently acting Prime Minister), the Honourable Richard Marles MP, would like to visit our campus on Tuesday to see our classes in action and meet some of our members.
With the campus closed for the semester break, this was certainly short notice.
The first call was to the ever-reliable Ruth Northcott to see if we could rally a few volunteers, as I wasn't sure I would make it back in time. This was a wonderful opportunity to showcase our organisation and our community, and we certainly didn't want to let it pass.
A heartfelt thank you goes to Elaine, Susan, Pamela, Ellie, Barb, Graham and Ruth, who answered the call so willingly. Their efforts to prepare the campus and ensure everything was ready at such short notice were greatly appreciated.
Emma arrived a little earlier to spend some time chatting with everyone before the Deputy Prime Minister's arrival. The visit itself was refreshingly informal, with no elaborate protocols or ceremony.
After the security team completed a routine check of the campus, Richard Marles walked through the front doors and immediately put everyone at ease. He was genuinely interested in our facilities and was quite surprised to learn that U3A Redcliffe has around 1,700 members.
During the tour of the campus, Richard asked thoughtful questions about the wide variety of classes on offer, how they were run, who taught them and, with a smile, whether there were any exams!
Afterwards, he joined us in the Margaret Ball Room for coffee and cake, where the conversation continued. He was particularly interested in the diverse backgrounds of our members and the remarkable range of subjects available. His curiosity was especially sparked when Traveller Tales was mentioned, leading to an engaging discussion.
Although the visit lasted just under an hour, those who met Richard were left with a very positive impression. He spoke openly about being the "black sheep" of a family of teachers and interacted with everyone in a relaxed, friendly manner, happily accepting some good-natured teasing about gaps in his own education.
As he departed, Richard reflected on the important role organisations like U3A play in supporting the mental, physical and social wellbeing of the community. On several occasions he commented that our campus felt like a "joyous" place to be.
That is a wonderful compliment to every volunteer, tutor and member who contributes to making U3A Redcliffe such a welcoming and vibrant community. Congratulations to everyone who helps create the positive atmosphere we are all so proud of.
