SOS call to help Red Cross
OVER the decades, they’ve worked untiringly but age and ill-health are beginning to take their toll.
The Red Cross unit in Dandenong has dwindled to just 10 members, prompting an SOS for more people to join the cause.
One of the unit’s best known and dedicated workers is its president Ruth Hartnett, who also finds time to work as a volunteer helper at Dandenong Hospital and at Heritage Hill.
A decade ago, she was given a long-service badge from Red Cross and was last year named the City of Greater Dandenong’s citizen of the year.
She is noted for her skill as a painter and at the age of 85, still enjoys art.
Mrs Hartnett says prospective new members were welcome to the annual meeting at 1pm on August 27 in the board room at the Dandenong RSL club rooms in Clow Street.
Reading Hour cometh
The Dandenong and Springvale libraries are always popular with bookworms of all ages in the city.
Now it’s time to give younger ones some more encouragement with the Reading Hour, held as part of National Year of Reading 2012 and aimed at getting parents to spend some time every day reading stories with their young ones.
First on the cards is a free family fun day at both libraries on Saturday, August 25. It starts with a ‘family baby bounce’ at 10.30am and family storytime at 11.30am.
Later, Giggle the roving clown will visit the Springvale library and Tall Ted the roving bear will drop in at the Dandenong library.
Highlights include children’s crafts and the Living Library – borrow a ‘human book’ and listen to fascinating life stories.
Sudanese author Carol Gogonya will be a special visitor to the Dandenong library to give an ‘author talks’ message and Blaise Van Hecke will present an aspiring writers workshop – bookings are required.
Taking notes at the U3A
The adage ‘You’re never too old to learn’ is proven true each week at the Dandenong University of the Third Age.
Older adults, some of the retired or semi-retired, enjoy a plethora of learning, recreational and social activities programs. The organisation has grown from a membership of 60 to about several hundred.
Thirty-eight classes are targeted at a variety of individual tastes and include painting, drawing, histories, genealogy, photography, dancing, singing, computers, tai chi and arts and crafts.
U3A’s philosophy is that of self-help. There is complete equality of the membership and tutors, and leaders in one group may be students in other groups.
To join U3A or learn more about classes for adults in their ‘third age’ call 95462997.
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