November 2025

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
December book is ‘Prima Facie’ by Suzie Miller. This is a propulsive, raw look at the price victims pay for speaking out and the system that sets them up to fail.
Ros

CURRENT AFFAIRS
In 2026, the Current Affairs Group will continue to meet on the third Wednesday of each month (from February) at 10.00. Meetings will be held in the same room (Mohoao) as we have been using at the Halswell Library/Service centre Te Hapua.
Graeme

CYCLING GROUP
On Monday 17 November we rode from Halswell to Hornby, through Broomfield and then followed the South Express Cycleway to Hagley Park. We had coffee at Quad Eatery at the Arts Centre then back to Halswell on the Southern Motorway Cycleway. There were 11 of us.
On Friday 28 November 11 of us cycled from Halswell to Heathcote Valley. It was a beautiful morning, warm and pretty calm. We had coffee at the Upshot Café at the Riding School on Bridle Path Rd before cycling on to Ferrymead and back along the river.

FAMILY HISTORY
Wow! Well, I never! That is such a surprise! Who would have thought?
At our final meeting for the year members shared what had been the most interesting, surprising or unexpected discovery they had found in their research so far. It was amazing to hear of the discoveries made when learning
more of their past families.
Our next meeting will be on the third Tuesday afternoon in February, 2026 when you would be welcome to come along to find out more of what we do.
Carole and Julia

HISTORY GROUP
The decision for 2026 is to enrol in Australian History 1 Prior to federation up to 1900. This will be up on line in January to give 12 months to cover the material.
Ros

PHOTOGRAPHY GROUP
At our November meeting we reviewed recent photographs taken by group members particularly of the recent hail storm. We went for another wander around the garden to take some flower photographs and discussed how to use a new cell phone close up lens. We then reviewed aspects of planning photography for trips away and using the weather as a definite feature of a photo.
As for some of us, our movements during January and February had not yet been finalised, our first meeting next year will be late January or early February to be finalised later and will be at 10am at 20A Victors Road as usual.
Eric

SCRABBLE ‘plus’
Our Scrabble Group of 10 ladies continue to enjoy twice monthly games of Scrabble and our goal of Scrabble “Plus” is developing in leaps and bounds. In November we “frocked up” on Cup Day and celebrated with a fun afternoon of Scrabble, chatter and a few “bubbles”. We are planning to finish 2025 with a shared lunch on 9 December, meeting early so we can lunch before a couple of games of Scrabble and a celebration of our friendship.
Judith

THEATRE APPRECIATION GROUP
Just to let you know that our last meeting for the year was this Thursday at 1.15, usual venue. Some of us will be attending Rep’s production this Saturday but we’ll have to wait until next year to report on that obviously. I have been sent reviews of 9 to 5 at The Court so you can read what various people have said here.
Theatreview. Reviewed by Rose Muollo-Gray
Flat City Field Notes. Reviewed by Ruth Agnew
Backstage Christchurch. Reviewed by Kineta Knight
On the Boards. Reviewed by Belinda Cullen-Reid

URBAN EXPLORERS WALKING GROUP
There will be no walks in December or January, so the date of our next walk will be Thursday February 19th, 2026.
We appreciate the efforts of those who organise our monthly walks and would love to hear from others willing to do so as well – just let us know the area(s) and the preferred month(s) so that we can organise our program. Contact Elaine
New members are always welcome, too.
Elaine Bryson and Russell Simson

SINGING GROUP
The Singing Group will reconvene after the February 2026 General Meeting