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Cheryl
Wickes
Position: President |
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Cheryl
Wickes
Position: President
Born in northern NSW, I spent most of my
school years in Sydney before marrying and beginning a whirlwind
life of moving constantly with my husband’s job. I
didn’t have a chance to develop my own career during
those years throughout Australia and New Guinea.
I often thought that I must be descendant
from some nomadic tribe or another, feeling as though I
had just started to make friends, before moving again until,
after 18 years of constant change, my marriage ended, and
with two teenage children to support, I needed to find a
job in a small Sunshine Coast Hinterland town.
I finally bought myself a job by buying the local community
newspaper… and fell into the perfect career!!!
I finally sold that paper, and, when I decided to move closer
to my daughter and grandchildren in Rockhampton and ended
up buying the local paper in Agnes Water before retiring
to Rocky 14 years later.
Another move, and another community. And here at U3A I have
found many new friends while enjoying growing old gracefully!
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Lauree Lanyon
Position:
Vice President
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Lauree
Lanyon
Position: Vice President
My background
is education – Primary School teaching for most of my
career and then moved into Literacy Coach, Learning Support
teacher and finished my career as a Deputy Principal. I majored
in Early Childhood Education and am still passionate about
young children having a strong foundation of skills and concepts
in Prep to year 2 in order to experience success as they move
through their
education journey.
I retired at the end of 2022 and was determined to have a
rest for six months at least! One morning in late January
2023, I was having a coffee on the front porch and reading
‘CQ Today’. I had just returned from the Australian
Open (hence the photo) as I had wanted to be away from ‘school
and all it entails’ so that I could start ‘my
new life’. Whilst reading, I came across the events
page and noted that U3A was having their first meeting in
February……and here I am!
Honestly, joining U3A was the best thing I could do to start
my retirement – it’s fun, you meet lovely
people, you can learn new skills and you can control the number
of events you attend. |
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Jane
Brazil
Position: Secretary
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Jane
Brazil
Position: Secretary
I am currently Secretary of Rockhampton U3A. In my previous
life I worked in a butcher shop, owned and ran a garage,
then started as a bar attendant at Brothers Leagues Club,
and when I finished 32 years later, I was Administration
Manager.
I was married for 45 years, have 4 children and 8 grandchildren
all of which are the apples of my eye.
I joined U3A last year and have enjoyed the activities I
have experienced. I have also met a lot of wonderful people
through U3A.
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Jennifer
Robinson
Position:Treasurer
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Jennifer
Robinson
Position:Treasurer
I
was born and raised in a small town in the Riverina, NSW
where upon I married and had five children, I now have seven
grandchildren and five great grandchildren.
As the children left to acquire employment in Melbourne
I subsequently relocated and married again and spent seven
years in the city. My husband and I moved to Queensland
and my five children gradually followed and settled in various
areas of the state, a resident of Rockhampton for the past
fifteen years.
I have held quite a diverse work history within the administrative,
financial management and hospitality environments, providing
support to members of management within the private sector
including building, health, education and hospitality sectors
as well as within the public sector such as councils/committees
in varied sectors of the not-for-profit organisations.
I have a deep appreciation and acknowledgement of the work
of volunteers and respect the value of members that provide
their time on committees and other services for the successful
outcome of an organisation.
Albeit I have done my best to avoid committee membership
and with my biggest fear of public speaking I think that
I may have thrown myself into the deep end, however I hope
that my time as Treasurer I will successfully meet that
challenge.
“Do that which you fear to do and the fear will die.”
– Ralph Waldo Emerson
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Tricia
Meek
Position: Assistant Secretary
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Tricia
Meek
Assistant Secretary
I was born Alpha and the family moved to Rockhampton when I
was very young. I did my schooling in Rockhampton at the Hall
State School and the Berserker State School and finally Rockhampton
High School.
I started work at the old Woolworths shop in East Street when
I was 15 years old. My last job was with what used to be called
Tubemakers. I moved to Brisbane at the company’s request
and took up a national role as the National Purchasing Manager.
In 2017 I retired, sold my house in Brisbane and came home.
In 2020 I sold my home in Rockhampton and moved into Fitzroy
by Teman which was the best decision I ever made. This is where
I discovered the U3A.
I started playing Mahjong with some of the residents in the
village when I first moved in and enjoyed the game. When our
little group at the village dwindled away I joined in with the
U3A Mahjong group.
I think I am busier now than I ever was. Loving life, meeting
new friends and still learning new things.
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Bev
Meredith
Committee member and Social Coordinator |
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Bev
Meredith
Social Coordinator
Bev is
a native of Newcastle, NSW where she grew up, met her husband
Paul at Newcastle University and had her son, Peter and daughter,
Kellie.
Bev began teaching High School in Sydney and then received
a Newcastle Primary School appointment. Paul worked in Newcastle
also as a Civil Engineer.
Bev travelled extensively during the 3 years they lived and
worked in Reigate, Surrey, England.
Bev retired from full time teaching after 18 years as Assistant
Principal at Elermore Vale Public School in Newcastle.
With the children now left home Paul and Bev continued to
move north for the next decade – Brisbane, Gladstone,
Townsville, Brisbane again, Coffs Harbour and now Rockhampton.
Paul has undertaken contract civil projects and Bev ran her
own tutoring business as well as tutoring for Ronald McDonald
House with brain cancer students.
Bev moved to Rockhampton to be closer to her daughter, who
is Director of Speech Pathology at the Base Hospital and her
2 granddaughters. Cameron, her husband is Principal at Westwood
State School.
Peter, her son, lives in Adelaide with his wife Liz and their
son Patrick. Peter works for the University of Sydney and
Liz works in curriculum development for a South Australian
pre- school. Bev is still hopeful of another grandchild in
the future!
Bev is an avid reader, loves gardening and indoor plants.
She enjoys decorating and to her husband’s disgust,
continually moving furniture around in the house!
She adores dogs, particularly Beagles. They have had 6 Beagles
over the period of her married life. She now has 2 Jack Russell
Terriers, who are her caravan traveling companions. |
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Sub
Committee Members |
Journal
Editor
Angela
Johnson
0419 605 662
editor@u3arocky.au
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Vicki
Cope
Position: Volunteer Coordinator |
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Vicki
Cope
Position: Volunteer Coordinator
I was born in Boorowa in NSW. After my father died when I
was 2 years old, our family moved to Toowoomba where I lived
until moving to Brisbane in my late 20’s.
I began working at Chandler’s Head Office in the accounts
department until Henry and I went travelling overseas for
9 months.
On returning, I worked at Barry and Roberts where I was in
charge of the Lay-by and Budget Department.
In 1976 Henry and I were married, and I worked for a small
company called International Traders in West End until our
first daughter, Nicole was born. After Nicole was 2, I worked
part-time for Queensland Wholesalers until falling pregnant
with my second daughter Mynissa.
At this time, Henry was offered a position in Rockhampton,
and we moved in January, 1984, to Zilzie.
Mynissa was born with Down Syndrome, but we were fortunate
that she had no other major health issues. To gain better
access to Specialist Therapy Services, we moved to Rockhampton
when she was 3. After Mynissa turned 10, I began part-time
work at Kmart, working in various areas of the store until
retirement.
We are now the proud grandparents of two beautiful grand-daughters.
I have often said that I spent my whole life working so I
could retire and have fun, and, believe me, I am.
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Len
and Emily Hill |
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Position:Guest
Speaker: Co-ordinator
Len
and Emily Hill
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Terry
Holland
Position:Activities Manager
Just a
few words about Terry & Margaret Holland. We have lived
in Wandal since April 2020, a week before the big hail storm
(no damage thankfully).
We spent the forty years before that in Wandoan
where I was the Postmaster. Our three children grew up there,
two of them now live in Rockhampton, so for the past 20 years
we had 2 or 3 trips to Rocky every year.
We lived in Darwin for 3 years until Cyclone
Tracy convinced us it was time to leave. Our eldest daughter
Jennifer was born a month later.
While in Wandoan we had many and varied experiences. Margaret
has life membership of the Gymnastics Club. Both of us have
life membership of the Tennis Club for many years of service.
I spent 7 years as a Councillor on the Taroom Shire Council
which was a steep learning curve, but overall a rewarding
experience.
We joined U3A early 2021 and have really enjoyed
the activities we have been involved in and have made many
new friends. I became Friday Mahjong coordinator February
this year and have handed that job over and have taken on
being Activities Manager since June this year.
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Terry
Holland
Activities Manager |
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Nick
Quigley OAM
Position: Web Coordinator
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Nick
Quigley OAM
Position: Web Coordinator
I was born and educated in New Zealand and came to Australia
on a working holiday in 1966. I was drafted into the Australian
Army National Service in1967 at the age of 21 because I
was a British Subject, and I served in Vietnam with 104
Signal Squadron as an Operator Radio.
Discharged in 1969 I started to work for CREB in November
1969. I stayed there for 3 months short of 30 years, gaining
computer skills while working.
My first website was for an airshow in Rockhampton, then
I went to TAFE and learnt the Dream-weaver program and have
continued with that ever since.
My other interests are in photography, amateur radio, tech
troubles, and gardening.
I’ve been a volunteer since 1999. I have a great interest
in helping War Veterans and I’m on the executive at
Cockscomb Veterans Bush Retreat Inc and the CQ TPI Assoc.
In 2006 I was awarded an Order of Australia (OAM) for Services
to Veterans. When Helen was alive we travelled to many destinations
in Australia in the caravan, went to Vietnam in 2010, and
Norfolk Island and many holidays in New Zealand and we enjoyed
three P&O Cruises.
Other
Websites that I look after are
https://cockscombvets.au
Cockscomb
Veterans Bush Retreat Inc
https://cchs.org.au
Capricorn Coast Historical Society
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Publicity
Officer -
Leslie Smith NEW
0419 179 133
Email: zebu3.u3a@gmail.com
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Henry
Cope
Position: Previous Vice President and
2023 Conference Coordinator
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Henry
Cope
Position: Previous Vice President and
2023 Conference Coordinator
Born
in Toowoomba in 1952, I grew up there until moving to Brisbane
in 1970 to attend University.
In 1974/5 in a gap year from Uni, Vicki and I travelled
for nine months through Europe in a Combi Van, and married
in 1976.
I became a bit of a perpetual student studying for a variety
of degrees. Registered as an Architect, I worked in a number
of Architectural offices in Brisbane until in 1983 when
I accepted a six months job with a local Architectural Office
in Rockhampton.
In 1987 I joined the Public Service (the old Works Department),
and worked my way up to become the Regional Architect (for
one day), before being seconded to the Health Department
in 1993.
After three years as Program Manager for their Regional
Capital Works Program, I returned to the Works Department
as a Project/Program Manager until retiring in 2011.
I have held President, Secretary and Treasurer positions
for a number of community organisations, and joined U3A
in 2016.
Vicki and I have two daughters, Nicole and Mynissa, and
two granddaughters, Charlie and Kaitlin.
For most of my life I did not know what I wanted to be when
I grew up. I finally realized that all I wanted was to be
a grandfather and be retired. Success!
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