U3A celebrates Seniors Week with cultural immersion day

INDIGO U3A celebrated Seniors Week at its premises with a vibrant ‘Cultural Immersion Day’ held on Monday drawing a large cohort of members with an open community lunch for locals. Yorta Yorta elder from Albury, Uncle Phil Murray, shared his knowledge of traditional handcrafted tools over lunch explaining each specific use over thousands of years with engaged locals keen to learn more about First Nations culture. Uncle Phil said he was always happy to get involved in opportunities to talk about Indigenous culture. "It’s sharing and keeps our culture going and for everyone to know what we're about,” he said. "It's not just about everyday life, it is about learning and sharing and it has been good to be invited to this event." U3A members were hooked in two basket weaving workshops held in the morning and afternoon run by local artist Cate Ferguson - a Wiradjuri woman born and raised in Junee who then lived in Wagga Wagga for many years on Wiradjuri country before a move to the North East. Yackandandah’s Vicki Johnson said she had always been intrigued with traditional basket weaving. “I've never been able to do it and it's a lovely, peaceful way of learning a new craft,” she said. Beechworth’s Julie Murray enjoyed the weaving workshop too. “It’s the first time I’ve done it and once you get the gist of it, there’s a rhythm just like knitting,” she said. Cate said she found sharing her knowledge and skills in basket weaving rewarding. It’s a joy to pass on these skills and plugging a new group of people into something new and seeing what they accomplish,” she said. U3A president Neil Townsend said the event focused on expanding an understanding of First Nations cultural practices while U3A has long been a champion of lifelong learning. “With the help of Joy Philips and through our network of members, and our First Nations learning class led by Joy, we continue to foster this important education within our community,” he said. “Joy has made a fabulous contribution to U3A and our community, because with her leadership, she has just completed a very well-structured program called First Nations. “It's an opportunity for everyone to come along and understand more.” On behalf of U3A, Joy also gave the Acknowledgement to Country. U3A held the event in partnership with Indigo Shire Council as part of Indigo Senior's Festival. Shire access and inclusion officer Kelly Sutherland cultural immersion day had been a major festival event. “We were funded through the State Government Victorian Seniors Festival to put this on for the community,” she said. "We’re hoping to capture as many people within our community who want to foster a sense of inclusion and making sure that all of our seniors feel honoured and celebrated during festival.”

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