Cheryl Wickes
Position: President

Jane Brazil
Position: Secretary

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

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

Joan Cooper
Assistant Secretary

Vicki Cope
Position: Volunteer Coordinator

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.

Alan Watts
Position:Guest Speaker: Co-ordinator

Now some of you don’t know me. I’ve been asked to tell you now
A lit bit about me, and this poem now is how.
I was born up at Mount Morgan. Not far away from here.
You’ll have to guess my age though, As I won’t tell you the year.

For more than half my life though, Rockhampton’s been my place.
Both as a child and adult. That I could make my space.
I grew up in Park Avenue and did  primary school there
Grade eight was at North Rocky High, And then I moved elsewhere.

I finished school at Hervey Bay and there I joined the Bank.
For a forty year career, I now have it to thank.
To Biloela then I went and then moved on to Brissy.
I married, had two kids there. You can see I was quite busy.

To Clermont then we made the move. To Rocky I returned.
And that was back in ninety-three. Since then so much I’ve learned.
I studied up at Rocky T.A.F.E, and in retirement,
I ‘ve joined the local U3A and that is time well spent.

I run two groups , attend two more. I find each month’s Guest Speaker.
Attend committee meetings. Seems I’m a real thrill seeker.
My other interests are my Church and Politics, What’s news?
 You know me now and U3A helps me to share my views.

Alan Watts (Poetry for Leisure and Financial Discussion Co-Ordinator.
 

Bev Meredith
Social Coordinator

Henry Cope
Position: Previous Vice President and
2023 Conference Coordinator

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!