U3A Toowoomba

U3A Toowoomba U3A in Toowoomba Inc. is one of many similar U3A organisations in Australia. Formed in 1990 we provi The concept of U3A was developed in Toulouse in 1974.

The University of the Third Age (U3A) is an international organisation, embodying the principles of life-long education and the pursuit of knowledge for its own sake, in an atmosphere of mutual learning and teaching. Each U3A is a learning community, organised by and for people who can best be described as being active in retirement - the so-called Third Age of their lives. The term "University" i

s used in the original and medieval sense of an association or community of teachers and scholars, united in the pursuit of knowledge. Third Age refers to the life period of active retirement, which follows the first age of childhood and formal education and the second age of working life, and which precedes the fourth age of dependence. It spread rapidly through France and throughout Europe. The first Australian U3A was established in 1984, in Melbourne City, and the first courses were offered at the beginning of 1985. The first Queensland U3As were established in 1986. commenced in 1990. It has grown and evolved since commencement and now welcomes over 1800 members who have the opportunity to participate in over 140 classes/activities each week of term. While there are common objectives shared by all U3As, there are also broad differences of interest patterns, structure and organisation, determined by the particular needs of each U3A and the resources available locally to meet those needs. does not receive any government funding and relies entirely on the membership fees and class fees to meet the cost of managing and running the organisation.

Symphonic SoundsFrom the concert hall to Niagara Falls – through the power of music.This term, the U3A Toowoomba Symphon...
11/06/2026

Symphonic Sounds

From the concert hall to Niagara Falls – through the power of music.

This term, the U3A Toowoomba Symphonic Sounds class has been exploring the theme "Composers' First Symphonies", discovering how composers introduced themselves to the musical world through their earliest large-scale orchestral works.

In today's class, members enjoyed Niagara Symphony (1854) by American composer and music critic William Henry Fry. A highly imaginative and experimental work, Niagara is considered one of the earliest American symphonic tone poems. Written for P.T. Barnum's famous "Monster Concert" in New York, the 14-minute composition vividly depicts the power and grandeur of Niagara Falls through music.

Fry employed an extraordinary orchestra, including 11 timpani to recreate the thunderous roar of the falls, while swirling strings and hissing snare drums evoke the rushing water and mist. The result is a dramatic and innovative musical experience that was well ahead of its time.

The Symphonic Sounds class continues to offer members an opportunity to listen, learn and discuss a wide variety of orchestral music, exploring the stories behind the composers and their works while sharing a love of music in a friendly and welcoming environment.

Not many Wednesday Strollers braved the damp morning for a constitutional stroll around Kearneys Spring. However, it wa...
10/06/2026

Not many Wednesday Strollers braved the damp morning for a constitutional stroll around Kearneys Spring. However, it was fun and quite invigorating to embrace the damp weather and enjoy the misty vistas over the southern escarpment.
We even saw a wallaby cautiously observing us from the edge of the bushland.
Morning tea was a different story - quite a few Strollers joined us for coffee in the cosy surrounds of the Fire and Ice Cafe!
Always lovely to chat with fellow walkers over a good brew!
🫖☕️🍰

‘God Save the Queen!’ Or perhaps ‘God Save Grahame’?Grahame Blackman, Tutor of ‘Australian History & its Exceptionalism’...
08/06/2026

‘God Save the Queen!’ Or perhaps ‘God Save Grahame’?

Grahame Blackman, Tutor of ‘Australian History & its Exceptionalism’, donned the crown and royal jewels to celebrate Queen Victoria’s coronation on 28th June 1838.
Today’s class re-created this event in colonial history. It was observed as a public holiday, Governor Gipps held a formal military function and the Australian and Sydney Gazette newspapers waxed lyrical on the far away colony bonds.
Orders were written, spoken and published, and feasting was great.
It was a momentous occasion at U3A today with the Australian History Course also celebrating Queen Victoria’s 188th anniversary.

“Two possibilities exist: Either we are alone in the universe or we are not. Both are equally terrifying.” Arthur C. C...
08/06/2026

“Two possibilities exist: Either we are alone in the universe or we are not. Both are equally terrifying.” Arthur C. Clarke
Professor Jonti Horner is an astrobiologist and astronomer based at the University of Southern Queensland. He is a passionate science communicator and teacher and takes great pleasure from delving into the mysteries of the cosmos, and the question of life elsewhere.
This morning at the U3A Speaker’s Hub Group, we had the absolute pleasure of listening to Jonti as he as he spoke about “The Search for Alien Worlds”.
He also told us how UniSQ is at the forefront of planet discovery work through the Mount Kent Observatory, located at a dark-sky site outside of Toowoomba in southern Queensland.
Mount Kent Observatory is Queensland’s only professional research observatory for astronomy teaching and research training. This world-class facility includes an array of state-of-the-art telescopes and technology, bringing UniSQ researchers and students to the forefront of ongoing research.

Jonti is also a passionate astrophotographer. In his own words:
“I first became interested in astrophotography as a teenager back in the 1990s. Back then, I took photos using an old Pentax ME Super camera, on slide film. Taking pictures was a costly and frustrating experience - especially when the photographs took several weeks to develop! Nowadays, I take wide-field photographs using my Canon EOS R6 camera, with Samyang lenses, and a Star Adventurer tracking camera mount. I am also the proud owner of a Celestron 8" RASA telescope, which I use to image deep sky objects across the night sky.”
You can check out examples of Jonti’s astrophotography at: AstroJonti.com
Many thanks to Jonti for taking us on a fascinating journey through space this morning.

After last weeks walk was cancelled due to the wet weather, the Thursday walkers turned out in force today, eager to get...
04/06/2026

After last weeks walk was cancelled due to the wet weather, the Thursday walkers turned out in force today, eager to get back into exploring the parks and streets of Toowoomba.

Rugged up in various winter accessories to ward off the chilly breeze, we met up at Carly Hibberd Park on Velodrome Drive, Kearneys Spring where, led by Helen, we began our walk through the newer housing estates in this part of Toowoomba; namely the Kearney West estate and the Charker and West Streets project.
Due to their close proximity to the University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ) land in these estates is highly sought after.

After walking approximately 5.5 kilometres we returned to Carly Hibberd Park.
This park has a range of recreational activities including picnic and BBQ facilities, extensive children’s play equipment, a fenced off leach dog area and beginner mountain bike trails, making it very popular with families.

The park is named in honour of Carly Hibberd, an elite Australian cyclist who was tragically killed while training in Italy in 2011. She was just 26 years old.
Her love of cycling began as a 6 year old with the Toowoomba BMX Club.
She then took up mountain biking before quickly progressing to professional road racing at the age of 19.

Following our enjoyable but rather chilly walk, it was lovely to step into the warmth of Cafe Inferno, one of our favourite coffee venues, where great coffee, cake and conversation warmed us even further.
Maureen McHugh
Photos: Lesley Walker

The U3A Drayton Tai Chi class, tutored by Marie Kajewski, practicing some moves. And what do U3A members do after a cla...
29/05/2026

The U3A Drayton Tai Chi class, tutored by Marie Kajewski, practicing some moves. And what do U3A members do after a class on a rainy, cold morning.

☕ Coffee Time!!

The last days of Autumn in Toowoomba have been miserable - wet, foggy, windy and cold! Not good weather for walking at a...
29/05/2026

The last days of Autumn in Toowoomba have been miserable - wet, foggy, windy and cold! Not good weather for walking at all!
The U3A Wednesday Stroll Group and the Thursday Walking Group decided to leave the wet weather to the ducks.

Much more civilised to catch up with one another in the cosy surroundings of the Fire and Ice Cafe for conversation, coffee and cake!

Winter begins next Monday so fingers crossed for better weather next week so we can hit the pavements again🙂🙂

Congratulations to Dalby U3A! Celebrations will commence at the Senior Citizens Hall, Cnr Condamine & Roche Street Dalby...
26/05/2026

Congratulations to Dalby U3A!

Celebrations will commence at the Senior Citizens Hall, Cnr Condamine & Roche Street Dalby at 10.30am, 13th July.
All are welcome.
If you would like to help Dalby celebrate, please ring the number below for more information.

The members of the Exercise for the Well-Meaning are hard at work concentrating on their warm-up before launching into s...
25/05/2026

The members of the Exercise for the Well-Meaning are hard at work concentrating on their warm-up before launching into some fun exercise to kick-start the week. Rumour has it the most popular part of the class is the final 15 minutes — not because of the stretches, but because participants finally get to sit down and call it the “warm down”!

This morning, The Speaker’s Hub Group had the privilege of hearing from raconteur Captain Robin Cartwright whose address...
25/05/2026

This morning, The Speaker’s Hub Group had the privilege of hearing from raconteur Captain Robin Cartwright whose address was entitled “A Life in the Clouds”.
Born in India shortly before the British withdrawal, Robin moved with his family to Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) where he developed his passion for flying and his interest in meteorology.
Robin took us on a fascinating journey as he spoke about his many adventures including successful Cloud Seeding in Zimbabwe which resulted in rain which filled Lake Kyle near Masvingo. He also flew tourists close to the ground in a Piper Apache to view prolific herds of African wildlife. On one of these flights, his little plane was charged by a large bull elephant!

His journeys continued throughout the world as an airline pilot specialising in flying during poor weather conditions. Among his many memorable experiences was being hijacked by Robert Mugabe and his strong men, and on another occasion having to divert a flight due to extremely bad weather when he was captain of a plane carrying Pope John Paul 11.

Robin could have talked all day – and we certainly could have listened all day! Sincere thanks to Robin for sharing your adventures with us.

Address

7 Matthews Street
Toowoomba, QLD
4350

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 12:30pm
1pm - 4pm
Tuesday 9am - 12:30pm
1pm - 4pm
Wednesday 9am - 12:30pm
1pm - 4pm
Thursday 9am - 12:30pm
1pm - 4pm
Friday 9am - 12:30pm
1pm - 4pm

Telephone

+61746877659

Website

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