Committee of Management

  • Jean Walker

    Position: 
    President

     

    Jean was born in Yorkshire. She is currently President of U3A Glenorchy in Hobart, Tasmania. She retired at the end of 2008 from the Australian Education Union after four years as State President for Tasmania, after a long career in secondary schools teaching English, Social Science and Special Needs. 

    She is long-time member, and past-president, of the Zonta Club of Hobart Derwent, a service club for business and professional women. She is also on the Executive Committee of the Retirement Benefits Association in Tasmania.
     

    She lives with her partner, Colin, a retired journalist, and Loius, their King Charles Cavalier, in Berriedale where they have a great view of MONA (Museum of New and Old Art). She has three adult sons, seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.  As a retired teacher and unionist, she is committed to the value and importance of life-long learning for all.

    Her main interests are classical music and opera, concerts, theatre and films, reading and as much travel as she can manage.

  • Jean Duff

    Position: 
    U3A Manager & Vice President
    • Jean was born in United Kingdom, married to Alex and has 3 children and 2 grandchildren who all live in Perth, WA.

    She retired from work in 2014 after 20 years working for the Western Australian State Government in the Department of Culture and the Arts Administration Team. Her interests are Genealogy – She has completed the U3A Online Genealogy Course and has been working on her family tree for the past 15 years but with names of Brown and White in the family its taking longer than anticipated. With the advent of DNA testing this brought a renewed passion in her research as it brings more connections.   Jean is also a member of her local Family History Association and is in involved in many of their activities.

    She is also a member of a U3A in the Perth Northern Suburbs area and attends weekly meetings.  She is involved with the U3A Network WA and is currently the Network Treasurer. Her other interests are reading, walking and visiting new places. She takes an active interest in her local community.

  • Kerry Hamilton

    Position: 
    Secretary

    U3A Online has a wonderful way of linking people from all over this country and the world.  I am privileged to have been a committee member, Newsletter editor, advisor and secretary in the past. During this time I have come to a fuller understanding of the role that we, as a group of lifelong learners and teachers, can play in this wonderful network.

    Before retirement I was a teacher, a role I very much loved. These days I spend time with my large, joyful family, and have fun with bushwalking, travel, yoga and friends.

    I live on the Gold Coast in Queensland.

     

     

  • Heather Jones

    Position: 
    Treasurer

    I qualified as an Accountant in 1964.  Next I worked for National Cash Register Co. for 1 year in their Computer Division in York St Sydney.  Following that I spent 2 years in the Women’s Royal Australian Air Force. When I completed my service in the WRAAF, I moved back to NCR and worked for them for 10 years in various states of Australia performing various programming duties. 

    Next I was married and had two children.  I was divorced after 5 years and, being left to bring up two children alone, I decided that Teaching adults was a way that I could provide for the children and still be there for them.  I also had my own Accounting Practice that I could manage from my own home, so I acquired a Bachelor of Teaching (AVE), and proceeded to work for TAFE and private Colleges in the Gosford and Newcastle areas. 

    During my time teaching, I taught such subjects as Computing, Accounting, Computer Accounting and Business Administration Subjects. I retired when I was 65 and moved to Tamworth to be near my family. 

    My interests now are Croquet, Craft, Mah Jong, U3A both online and Tamworth, and playing cards (Solo, 500 and Cribbage). I joined the committee in 2014.

    Since becoming Treasurer for U3A Online I have also helped with the editing and uploading of courses with the Programme Co-ordinator.

    I have continued my own learning curve, completing a Graduate Diploma in Family History and also one in Psychology.

    I believe, Learning is a continuing practice and helps to keep our mind functioning.

  • Bev Tapper

    Position: 
    Course Coordinator & Course Developer

    Bev retired from office administration and became a volunteer literacy tutor. She is also a member
    of her local Rural Fire Brigade and has been the voluntary secretary and treasurer for the brigade.
    She lives in the Hawkesbury area north of Sydney. Her interests are gardening, bird watching and
    drawing.
    She joined U3A Online in 2008 and became Secretary in 2011. Since then she has held various
    positions on the Committee of Management and is currently the Course Coordinator and assistant to
    the Administrator and Course Developer.

  • John Mitchell

    Position: 
    Administrator

    In the past John has been involved with many clubs in administration positions. While in New Zealand for close to 50 years he was:

    NZ Representative of the Captain Cook Society (still a member in Australia).
    On Regional Finance committee of the NZ Historic Places Trust
    A member of the NZ Royal Society
    A member of the NZ Professional Historians Society
    Member of the NZ Institute of Management

    His working life has been split between Accounting and IT management positions, sometimes including both.
    He moved to Australia 15 years ago with his wife and worked full time as an accountant for a group of small companies until retirement.

    On a more personal level his parents emigrated to Australia from England in the 1950s living in Nowra, NSW for one year and Melbourne for approximately 4 years. He attended his first year of High School in Victoria. His parents then decided to move to New Zealand and there he remained until 15 years ago. He has two sons in Australia (moved there before he did!) and one in Auckland plus his wife has an adult son and daughter in Christchurch, NZ. We have six grandchildren.

    His interests are many but mainly history, computers, geology and photography and also forever learning!

    John is based on the Gold Coast, Queensland

     

  • Colette Kinsella

    Position: 
    Committee Member

    COLETTE KINSELLA was born in Dublin. She emigrated to Brisbane in 1981 with her then husband and teenage son and daughter. She met Phil in 1985 and they lived together untill 2023 when Phil passed away. Daughter lives in Seattle, while son lives in Perth. Four lovely adult grandchildren.

    Colette has been in administration most of her life, in various capacities. She has a B.Admin., a Post-Grad. Dip. In Women’s Studies, a Diploma in Career Guidance and a Cert IV in Workplace training and Assessment.The 20 years she spent in the Federal Public Service to 2005 were good years, working with some wonderful people with whom she still keeps in touch. After official retirement, she did some consultancy work, and volunteer work with several organisations. She is currently on
    Management Committee of ‘Sixty And Better’ Club in Deception Bay.

    Her interests include: symphony concerts, playing Mah Jong and Canasta, long lunches with
    friends, long phone calls with family. She and Phil travelled as much as the budget allowed and have
    had many enjoyable holidays in recent years in Ireland, England, Seattle,Vancouver, Whistler,
    Paris, Perth, Queensland and NSW.

    She enjoys the opportunity to contribute to the management of U3A online, drawing on her skills and experience.

     

  • Kathy Slater

    Position: 
    Committee Member

    Kathy was born in New Zealand and although has travelled extensively, living in England for a time is
    now definitely a resident in New Zealand. Involvement with family and a wide range of volunteer
    activities, external to U3A, ensures that there are always new challenges and interesting situations
    to make life interesting.
    Taught in primary school, then moved on to teaching in secondary school until taking up a position
    at a University in Auckland where she lectured for 24 years and is still employed in a part time role
    supervising Graduate students.
    Involvement with U3A St Heliers has resulted in various roles but standing down this year from the
    committee is something she is looking forward to but will continue to maintain the web page and to
    represent U3A St Heliers on the Auckland Network Committee.
    Within the Community Kathy works one day a week as a volunteer in the local Hospice Shop and also
    delivers Meals on Wheels through the Red Cross.
    Email: kathyslater@xtra.co.nz

  • Colin Bull

    Position: 
    Member

    I am a retired school Teacher. In addition to my Diploma in Teaching, I have a BA and MA in Psychology, together with a Post Graduate Diploma in Counselling. I also have a Fitting and Machining Trade Certificate.

    From 2003 to the beginning of the Covid pandemic, I developed and taught a course in Relationship Psychology for the Nepean / Blue Mountains U3A chapter. In 2009, I adapted this course for U3A Online, as Practical Psychology for Relationships.

    I have had a life-long interest in Mental Health. For six years prior to the beginning of the pandemic, I facilitated a local anxiety support group for the NSW Mental Health Association (Way Ahead). I have published research on the parental management of children diagnosed Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. I continue to read and research Psychology.

    In recent years, I have had a number of oral history articles published in the Australian Railway History Journal. I have also developed an interest in building and maintaining computers.

    I am married and we have three daughters, three granddaughters and a grandson.