About our Committee Members
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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!

 

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.

     
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.

 

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


   
     

Tricia Meek
Position: Assistant Secretary

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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.
     
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.

     

 

   
   
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.

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.

Terry Holland
Activities Manager
   
     


 



 


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

 
Publicity Officer -
Leslie Smith
NEW 0419 179 133
Email: zebu3.u3a@gmail.com

   
     

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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