Archive for April, 2009

April 2009 Newsletter

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Posted on: April 10th, 2009
 

Literature Discussion Group

April 24, 2009
10:30 amto12:30 pm
May 29, 2009
10:30 amto12:30 pm
June 26, 2009
2:00 amto12:30 pm

 

Leader: Angela Wawn

Last Friday of the month – 24 April, 29 May, 26 June  10.30am – 12.30pm

This is an opportunity to share your interest in novels with other readers. The reading list will be decided upon by the group with the condition that the titles are readily available through the City of Sydney Library, or in a low-cost edition such as the newly available ‘orange cover’ Penguins (currently $9.95 each).

The reading for April will be The Great Gatsby, by Scott Fitzgerald

Maximum number: 12

Venue: Reg Murphy Activity Centre

 

 

Posted on: April 10th, 2009
 

Poets’ Shed

May 6, 2009
10:00 amto11:30 am
May 13, 2009
10:00 amto11:30 am
May 20, 2009
10:00 amto11:30 am
May 27, 2009
10:00 amto11:30 am
June 3, 2009
10:00 amto11:30 am
June 10, 2009
10:00 amto11:30 am
June 17, 2009
10:00 amto11:30 am
June 24, 2009
10:00 amto11:30 am
July 1, 2009
10:00 amto11:30 am

 

Leader: Mary Tang

Wednesdays starting 6 May 10.00am – 11.30am

 

To study and discuss all aspects of poetry writing, with an opportunity to share and critique each other’s work.
 
Aspects to be covered
  • Poetry writing skills
  • Works of published poets
  • Readings
  • Workshop
 
Participants should be prepared to research and present a topic or a poet’s work in a roster.
 
Maximum number: 12
 
Venue: Sydney Mechanics’ School of Arts

 

 

 

Posted on: April 10th, 2009
 

Refreshing your Intuition by Understanding Viking Runes

May 1, 2009
10:00 amto11:30 am
May 15, 2009
10:00 amto11:30 am
May 29, 2009
10:00 amto11:30 am
June 12, 2009
10:00 amto11:30 am
June 26, 2009
10:00 amto11:30 am
July 10, 2009
10:00 amto11:30 am

 

Leader: Sunny Seagull

Fridays fortnightly starting 1 May 10.00am – 11.30am

 

Viking Runes are stones with inscriptions that convey meaning. They have historically been used by the early Germanic, Nordic and Celtic peoples. Employed mainly for divination, they can be utilized on a metaphysical level to access your inner intuition. Stones and recent accessible translations will be shared in a fun and insightful class held by a runic practitioner, who has written two books about runes.
 
Aspects to be covered:
  • A brief History
  • How to make your own Runes
  • Use of Runes
 
Whatever you think of divination – a fad, fashion, reality, or an expression of intuition – you are invited to come along and try it for yourself.
 
Maximum number: 12
 
Venue: Sydney Mechanics’ School of Arts

 

 

 

Posted on: April 10th, 2009
 

Introduction to Chinese Calligraphy

May 7, 2009
10:00 amto11:30 am
May 14, 2009
10:00 amto11:30 am
May 21, 2009
10:00 amto11:30 am
May 28, 2009
10:00 amto11:30 am
June 4, 2009
10:00 amto11:30 am
June 11, 2009
10:00 amto11:30 am
June 18, 2009
10:00 amto11:30 am
June 25, 2009
10:00 amto11:30 am
July 2, 2009
10:00 amto11:30 am

 

Leader: Mary Tang

Thursdays starting 7 May 10.00 – 11.30

 

The course will introduce the basic strokes of Chinese writing for beginners, but also accommodates more experienced participants.
 
Aspects to be covered:
  • History of Chinese Language
  • Development of Chinese Writing
  • Understanding the use of equipment
  • Techniques of brushwork
  • Structure of Chinese characters
  • Building a vocabulary
 
Participants are expected to practice daily at home. Homework is set for each week.
 
Materials list will be provided upon enrolment (approximate cost $30, plus $5 for course notes).

Maximum number: 10

Venue: Sydney Mechanics School of Arts

 

 

 

Posted on: April 10th, 2009
 

Current Affairs: Does reading newspapers make you wild?

May 8, 2009
10:00 amto11:30 am
May 22, 2009
10:00 amto11:30 am
June 5, 2009
10:00 amto11:30 am
June 19, 2009
10:00 amto11:30 am
July 3, 2009
10:00 amto11:30 am

 

Leader: Sunny Seagull

Friday, fortnightly starting 8 May 10.00am – 11.30am

 

Can’t understand how or why things are done, or reported? Clip out your most recent annoyance and bring it to the class to share.

In this venue you can put your point of view across, argue your position, hear others’ opinion and be inspired.

Maximum number: 12

Venue: Sydney Mechanics’ School of Arts

 

 

 

Posted on: April 10th, 2009
 

Australians and the Pacific Islands

April 27, 2009
10:00 amto11:30 am
May 4, 2009
10:00 amto11:30 am
May 11, 2009
10:00 amto11:30 am
May 18, 2009
10:00 amto11:30 am
May 25, 2009
10:00 amto11:30 am
June 1, 2009
10:00 amto11:30 am
June 15, 2009
10:00 amto11:30 am

 

Leader: Donald Denoon, Emeritus Professor and Visiting Fellow, Division of Pacific and Asian History, Australian National University

Mondays 27 April to 15 June   10.00am – 11.30am

Australians often consider the Pacific islands – and Islanders – as ‘problems’. Islanders often see Australians in a similar light! To understand why we so often misunderstand each other, it is helpful to consider some formative events in our shared histories. These formative events include:
  • ‘discoveries’ and ethnographic classification,
  • the formation of colonial states,
  • the Pacific War,
  • the strange course of decolonisation,
  • and the rise and evolution of ‘aid’.
 
The trilogy of films by Connolly and Anderson – First Contact, Joe Leahy’s Neighbours and Black Harvest – will be shown and discussed as part of the course.
 
Maximum number: 20

Venue: Sydney Mechanics’ School of Arts

 

 

Posted on: April 10th, 2009
 

Learn to Knit for ‘Wrap with Love’

February 25, 2009
2:00 pmto4:00 pm
March 4, 2009
2:00 pmto4:00 pm
March 11, 2009
2:00 pmto4:00 pm
March 18, 2009
2:00 pmto4:00 pm
March 25, 2009
2:00 pmto4:00 pm
April 1, 2009
2:00 pmto4:00 pm
April 8, 2009
2:00 pmto4:00 pm

This course aims to teach basic knitting skills to beginners and those whose knitting skills are rusty.  It will focus on knitting for Wrap with Love, but all the skills can be used for any pattern and any purpose.

Wrap with Love is an Australia-wide movement of volunteer knitters working together to create beautiful handmade blankets. These are distributed in Australia and over 30 countries. and provide life-saving warmth to victims of natural disasters, war and poverty.

Aspects to be covered:

  • An Introduction to Wrap with Love
  • Casting on and off
  • Knit and purl stitches
  • Patterns using knit and purl stitches
  • A visit to a Wrap with Love warehouse
  • Sewing up a wrap

Participants are asked to bring a pair of 30 cm size 4 needles and a ball of 8-ply wool (not acrylic). These can be provided by the course leader if necessary – needles $6, wool $4.

Seven Weeks starting Wednesday, 25 February to 8 April     2 to 4 PM

Leader: Mary Mortimer

Maximum number 10

Venue: Reg Murphy Activity Centre

 

Posted on: February 5th, 2009
 

Introduction to Chinese Caligraphy

February 26, 2009
10:00 amto11:30 am
March 5, 2009
10:00 amto11:30 am
March 12, 2009
10:00 amto11:30 am
March 19, 2009
10:00 amto11:30 am
March 26, 2009
10:00 amto11:30 am
April 2, 2009
10:00 amto11:30 am

As a beginners course, it will introduce the basic strokes of Chinese writing.

Aspects to be covered:

  • History of Chinese Language
  • Development of Chinese Writing
  • Understanding the use of equipment
  • Techniques of brushwork
  • Structure of Chinese characters
  • Building a vocabulary

Participants are expected to practice daily at home.  Homework is set for each week.

Materials list will be provided upon enrolment (approximate cost $30, plus $5 for course notes).

Six weeks starting Thursday 26 February

to 2 April       10 to 11:30 AM

Leader: Mary Tang

Maximum number 12

Venue: Sydney Mechanics’ School of Arts

 

Posted on: February 5th, 2009
 

Poets’ Shed

February 25, 2009
10:00 amto11:30 am
March 4, 2009
10:00 amto11:30 am
March 11, 2009
10:00 amto11:30 am
March 18, 2009
10:00 amto11:30 am
March 25, 2009
10:00 amto11:30 am
April 1, 2009
10:00 amto11:30 am

To study and discuss all aspects of poetry writing, with an opportunity to share

Aspectst o be covered

  • Poetry writing skills
  • Works of published poets
  • Readings
  • Workshop

Participants should be prepared to research and present a topic or a poet’s work in a roster.

Six Weeks starting Wednesday 25 February to 1 April,  10 to 11:30 AM

Leader: Mary Tang

Maximum number 12 and critique each other’s work.

Venue: Sydney Mechanics’ School of Arts

 

Posted on: February 5th, 2009