Lakes Entrance U3A celebrated its 20th anniversary and the official opening of its new premises last Friday with a large group of members enjoying the evening.
Publicity officer Caroline Kondys put together the following report of the struggles and successes over the years:
In 2004 locals Babs Swift and Mike Smark got together with the idea of starting a U3A group in Lakes Entrance.
Public meetings were held to assess community interest, a steering committee was formed and on October 14, 2004, U3A Lakes Entrance was formed under the umbrella of U3A Bairnsdale and St Brendan’s Primary School offered the use of a classroom.
The first enrolment day was held in January 2005 with a total of 39 members. The first class was ‘A History of East Gippsland and Lakes Entrance’ with tutor Marion Holding.
The support of Bairnsdale was invaluable, but by April 2005 it was felt the fledgling Lakes Entrance group was ready to become its own entity.
On June 17, 2005, a special meeting was convened and a motion to become a separate group with its own constitution was carried unanimously.
U3A Lakes Entrance was born.
Over the next few years, the group continued to grow with the hard work of a dedicated committee and supporters resulting in an increasing membership base and many new and interesting courses.
Accommodating the increase in numbers was an ongoing challenge, St Brendan’s Primary School, Bethany House, Lakes Entrance Secondary College, the RSL, Senior Citizens and the Lakes Entrance Bowls Club are just some of the organisations that helped provide facilities to enable courses to continue between 2013 and 2024
Gippsland Lakes Lodge and U3A Lakes Entrance entered into a Memorandum of Understanding and the majority of classes were held at the Lodge in Rowe Street.
At the end of 2024 the rooms of the Lake Tyers Beach Angling Club became available when that group, unfortunately, had to fold due to lack of numbers. Consultation with the Angling Club, the East Gippsland Shire and U3A Lakes Entrance members resulted in the acquisition of the lease in early 2025 and finally, U3A Lakes Entrance had a place to call home.
Last Friday U3A Lakes Entrance celebrated its 20th birthday and the official opening of the new U3A Hub with past and present members of U3A and the LTB Angling Club invited.
Lakes Entrance Woolworths generously donated the anniversary cake, the committee provided refreshments and members are looking forward to bigger and better things to come.
