2022 Tutor
Excellence Awards2022 Tutor Excellence Awards
In 2022, an annual Tutors’ Excellence Award was introduced to recognise the significant role Tutors play in the U3A movement.Â
This gallery provides information about the eight Tutors who have received Excellence Awards in 2022.
Congratulations to the Award recipients, and thank you for everything you do.
Dina is a Life Member of U3A Waverley who has contributed significantly to the teaching program over more than 20 years. Her role as Director of the Choir, and as tutor for Exploring the World of Poetry and for Judaism – Understanding the Bible, attests to her wide range of interests and her willingness to share her knowledge with others.
The high quality of her work, and the enthusiasm she shows for it, is universally agreed by those attending her classes and by the U3A Waverley community in general. Her care and concern for members in her classes and her approach to teaching sets a high standard for other tutors to follow.
Click here to browse the courses, activities and programs offered by U3A Waverley.
Daniele shows a high degree of commitment to the ideals and purposes of U3A Network by teaching three French classes a week (Beginners, Intermediate and Advanced) and has done so for the last eight years. She constantly tries to make her courses interesting and challenging by varying her teaching materials and methods. She is a dedicated and enthusiastic tutor who maintains excellent relationships with her students.
Daniele’s students think highly of her teaching, and she is a popular tutor. Several of her students have joined the U3A Prom Coast to attend Daniele’s French classes. She has worked diligently and enthusiastically as a French tutor and despite some health issues she has continued to run three classes a week. This high workload has not prevented her from participating in several other U3A activities. She is a teacher of distinction and ability, and a great asset to the U3A Prom Coast.
Click here to browse the courses, activities and programs offered by U3A Prom Coast.
In acknowledgement of her outstanding contributions as a Tutor of History at both U3A Banyule and U3A Nillumbik, over the past nine years, the Award recognises Jane’s excellence as a developer of her own unique course material, covering a wide range of historical topics geared to the interests of her ‘third age’ learners. Excellence is also evident in the highly professional manner of her presentations and her outstanding rapport with class members.
Her classes are unfailingly informative, stimulating, and entertaining, her topics thoroughly researched, and she is always well-organised. Jane richly deserves the appreciation expressed by attendees, and their long-term loyalty to her as a Tutor. She shows an excellent understanding of and contribution to the goals and purposes of the University of the Third Age, with her strong commitment to lifelong learning.
Click here to browse the courses, activities and programs offered by U3A Banyule and click here for U3A Nillumbik.
For her tireless, enduring commitment and dedication to U3A Mornington over a period of 18 years, and for helping to develop and nurture the creativity of her Art students. She epitomises excellence as a tutor and actively encourages and inspires her students. She motivates her students through her deep knowledge of, and passion for Art, and has also developed innovative programs to enhance the experience for her Art students.
She pioneered summer paint outs, ‘en plein air’, which were later expanded to include courses from other disciplines and developed into U3A Mornington’s popular annual Summer School program. During COVID-19, Jan was pivotal in inspiring other Art tutors to transition their classes online and many Art tutors ran their classes effectively on Zoom. Conscious of the need for succession, Jan established and coordinates a team of 12 Art and Craft tutors which she effectively motivates and leads.
Click here to browse the courses, activities and programs offered by U3A Mornington.
For many years of dedication and generosity in providing the skills and motivation to our members to keep fit, strong and flexible. Increasing participation through the COVID lockdowns and beyond via online classes held up to five times weekly throughout the entire year. By personally welcoming every new enrolment, Helene ensures their participation is safe and challenging. Her patience with seniors coming to terms with online technology has been inspirational.
For encouraging ongoing social connection among members by organising regular face-to-face gatherings and online catchups before each class enhancing well-being and reducing feelings of isolation. A remarkable job well done by keeping many Bayside seniors fit both physically and mentally as well as recruiting and mentoring tutors for additional balance and strength classes to meet the needs of our members.
In recognition of her outstanding contribution to U3A Alpine activities as a tutor for four different exercise classes each week for the past 12 years. Her two Stretch, Pilates, and a gym class, based on attendance, are the most popular activities conducted by U3A Alpine. Her classes are fun. Nola adapts her classes to cater for the differing fitness levels and abilities by working at an easy pace on the floor, using chairs and getting members to assist other class members as required.
Her concern for class members’ health and fitness did not stop because of COVID restrictions where she adapted to ZOOM video conferencing technology by providing classes in members’ own homes. She has also been a valuable committee member organising interesting and informative guest speakers for our monthly coffee morning meetings for six years. Nola is a fitness enthusiast and an inspiring role model for all older people.
In her role as Tutor of the U3A Bright District Casual Cycling group, she constantly promotes and upholds the values and ideals of the U3A Network Victoria, connecting the local community, forming lasting friendships, learning new skills, and enjoying retirement together. She achieves this through her excellence in all areas, including leadership, organisation and administration, innovation, respect and inclusion, nurturing friendships, caring and compassion, empowering group members, and safety and health promotion.
Her modest, unflappable demeanour lets her deal with any situation calmly and the relationship she has formed and fostered within the group is one of encouragement, acknowledging achievements, care, support, and friendship. By her actions she has encouraged the same behaviour in all group members and participants are richer for her efforts! We offer our congratulations and gratitude for her ongoing commitment and dedication to the U3A movement.
He has provided a decade of outstanding service to U3A Ballarat as tutor, leader, and mentor to two Silversmithing and Jewellery classes, as well as active membership of the Bushwalking and Italian classes. Stephen is a professional metalsmith who brings excellence, experience, and skill to the class. He demonstrates and encourages excellence in fabrication and design, at the same time finding pragmatic and practical solutions to any problems students may encounter. Stephen is innovative; he continues to learn, investigating new techniques, often in response to interest by a student.
He has advised, supported, and encouraged students of all levels of expertise to design and produce high quality work. He has gone beyond the normal role of a tutor. He has provided excellence in leadership and significant input into the design of the U3A Ballarat Manual Arts Workshop (under development) as well as re-establishing 2022 classes in interim premises. He has designed and fabricated many pieces of furniture and equipment for the classroom. Stephen is incredibly good natured, patient, and generous; members are extremely grateful to be beneficiaries of his professional expertise and his generosity with both time and equipment.