March 2026

To send an email to an Interest Group Leader
Select the group from the Interest group page and fill out the form.
It will be forwarded to them .

See the Calendar for a full list of interest groups

BOOK GROUP
Our book this time is ’The Space Between’ by Lauren Keenan. Two women, two love stories, A world torn apart – A riveting novel set at the brink of the New Zealand wars. Ros

CYCLING GROUP
U3A Cycling March
We have 2 organised rides each month, on the 3rd Monday and the last Friday.
We ride mainly on dedicated cycleways around Christchurch and further afield. The rides usually have 2 start points to accommodate distance and speed preferences of the members. Most members have e-bikes. New members are always welcome.
On Monday 16 March we cycled from Halswell into the city centre on the Quarrymans Trail, through Hagley Park to Mona Vale then onwards to Sawyers Arms Rd on the Northern Line Cycleway. We then joined the Papanui Parallel Cycleway stopping for coffee at Meshinos Café in Rutland St. We continued on towards the city centre where we joined the Promenade back to the hospital and then onto Halswell. There were 10 of us, we enjoyed the ride and each other’s company over coffee.
Our ride on Friday 27 March was cancelled due to weather conditions.
Mary

FAMILY HISTORY GROUP
Do you have a story to tell, one that can be passed through the generations?
Our focus last month was our own childhood story, something which today’s youngsters would have difficulty comprehending. What no cell phones? No TV? Where was your computer?
Our next meeting with be on 21st April at 1.30pm. You are welcome to come along and see what we have to offer. Contact either Carole or Julia

HISTORY GROUP
This month we covered Unit 2 of Australia before 1788. Exploration of the unknown land of the South through the 15th to 18th Centuries and hence to the colonisation of New South Wales.
Ros

PHOTOGRAPHY GROUP
The U3A photography group will meet for its April meeting on Friday 17th April at 10am at 20a Victors Road. We generally meet on the third Friday of the month.
We plan to discuss recent photos especially any experimentation with depth of field, discuss any cell phone photography issues anyone has had and then we will look at autumn photography especially colours and patterns.

SINGING GROUP
So, we are trying again, with me (gulp!) at the helm. Like all of you in the group, and, I’m willing to bet, like a lot more in the rest of our U3A, I just love to sing! I have done since a child, and have been involved in all sorts of singing , city choirs, church choir, folk singing, preschool singing. With and without guitar ,and the last 15 years, with my ukulele. To get us going I will provide the songs and the song sheets will be emailed to you. You can then print off and keep them in a folder. There is no music to read, just songs that you’ll mostly know or will quickly learn. They’ll be easy to sing! You will have the opportunity to suggest songs and we’ll sing the ones we like and, learn some new ones!
So come along, on alternate Fridays, from 2 to 3 pm at the Halswell community hall. Starting Friday 17 April. Cost Only $3.00 ! I’m very happy to be contacted (text initially) if you have any questions See you all very soon
Bronwen Meek,
The singing group will meet on the 1st and 3rd Fridays of each month at 2.00 pm in the Halswell Community Hall, 450 Halswell Road.

THEATRE APPRECIATION GROUP
Theatre Appreciation Group meet on the Fourth Thursday of each month, 1.15pm at 22 Kekewai Place in Halswell. But also, we convene parties to local productions and coming up we will be attending Riccarton Players for ‘Romeo and Juliet’ on April 22nd and later in May Repertory’s ‘Animal Farm’.