U3A's programme for June

GEORGE NEWS - An interesting programme is once again being dished up by the George University of the Third Age (U3A) in June.

The programme starts on 8 June with Armchair Travel when U3A chairman Rob Berry will present Part 1 of 'Britain's Southwest Coast Path - a 30-year love affair'.

The chairman is a keen hiker and sent a photograph of 'The Lizard'. Those who want to know what that is, should come along to the talk which starts at 10:30.

Local railway history

In the Friday lecture on 17 June Allen Duff will present 'Mossel Bay-George-Oudtshoorn Railway'. This is an illustrated history of the construction and subsequent operation of the line, with lots of spectacular steam engine photographs.

Duff is a very popular speaker at U3A and has been the chairman of the Outeniqua Historical Society in George for many years.

A history teacher by profession, his main historical focus is the Cape Colony in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and he has a passionate interest in the transport systems and routes of that period.

Tea is at 10:00 and the lecture starts at 10:30.

International Affairs

Natie de Swart will lead another discussion in International Affairs at 14:00 on Monday 27 June.

Fascinating talk on vultures

In the general meeting on Wednesday 29 June, Angus Anthony will present 'The days of our lives: nature's clean-up crew'. This lecture will start with an introduction to the vultures of South Africa, the threats that face them daily and the need to conserve them.

The focus will be on the African white-backed vulture and their breeding colonies in Dronfield Nature Reserve, just north of Kimberly. Finally, the talk will address some of the current questions surrounding vultures.

Angus Anthony worked for the Rhodesian Department of National Parks and Wildlife Management in the 1970s and during that time he studied the lappet-faced vultures in the Gonarezhou National Park.

On moving to Dronfield Park to work in the ecology division of De Beers Consolidated Mines, he started monitoring the African white-backed vultures that were nesting on the property.

This promises to be a fascinating lecture and one not to be missed. Tea is at 10:00 and the lecture starts at 10:30.

All these lectures take place in the Outeniqua Moth Hall in Rijk Tulbach Street. Attendees are requested to wear face masks and adhere to Covid-19 safety precautions.

For further information, visit the George U3A website: https://sites.google.com/site/u3a.george.

An informative talk on vultures by Angus Anthony on Wednesday 29 June is highly recommended.