Browse: Home / Course Terms / Term 2, 2014

The University of the Third Age

U3A Okeover

Programme for Term 2, 2014

Term Completed

A Tourism

Dates: Thursdays 29 May, 5, 12, 19, 26 June

B The Plant Kingdom

Dates: Thursdays 29 May, 5, 12, 19, 26 June

C Farming in Canterbury – Not Just Dairying

Dates: Thursdays 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 July

D Emergency Services

Dates: Thursdays 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 July

Scroll down for full details of each course.

Times: 10:30 - 11:45

Enrolments for this term closed on Thursday 19 Jun 2014.

Officers:

Chairman:Howard Harvey021 1363043
Treasurer:Colin Freeman027 2369476
Please hand your enrolment form to the treasurer at the desk.


Course A

Tourism

Course organiser:Murray Compton

29 May:
James Urquhart on 'Developing Tourist Attractions: 'James is the General Manager at Mount Hutt Ski Field and has extensive experience in the development of tourism activities. The demand for activities for both international and domestic visitors places real pressures on developers. NZSki has been at the forefront of skifield and related developments in New Zealand and now has a very substantial investment in the tourism industry. James will be giving an overview of Mt Hutt and its impact on tourism.

5 Jun:
Scott Callaway on 'Manager South – Christchurch Airport: 'Scott has had an extensive career in tourism and has recently joined the Christchurch Airport management team as Manager of “South”. The Airport is the main entry point for inbound tourism to the South Island. The establishment of “South” responds to the need to encourage visitors to the South Island. This means that there must be ongoing development of new markets and the strengthening of existing sources of visitors. Scott will be concentrating his presentation on emerging markets, particularly China.

12 Jun:
Michael and Thomas Patterson on 'The Copthorne Commodore: 'Michael and Thomas Patterson have kindly agreed to speak in the absence of their father, Tom, who will be overseas. Michael, as General Manager, and Thomas, as Assistant Manager, are well-equipped to provide a fascinating story of the challenges which faced the family. The highly respected Copthorne Commodore has evolved from an alliance between the Wards from the Stonehurst Hotel and the Pattersons from the Milky Way milk bar. It opened on Christmas Day 1971 with 24 rooms and now boasts 160 guest rooms and 7 function rooms, together with an indoor heated swimming pool, spa, sauna, gymnasium and tennis court. These impressive facilities, together with the award-winning gardens, have been made possible by 42 years of continual reinvestment in the hotel

19 Jun:
Delwyn Sinclair on 'Outbound Travel: 'Dalwyn Sinclair is the Managing Director of House of Travel Upper Riccarton. He entered the travel industry as a domestic consultant for Union Travel in Oamaru and joined House of Travel in Christchurch in 1990, becoming a shareholder and Director in 2005. Outbound travel is obviously of great interest to a group such as U3A. We have been fortunate to have Dalwyn talk to us on such matters as where Kiwis are travelling to, favourite destinations, new and emerging destinations, the changing styles of travel, the role of the travel agent and technology.

26 Jun:
Caroline Blanchfield on 'Christchurch & Canterbury Tourism: 'Caroline is well able to talk to us on tourism as she has a dual management role in both Christchurch & Canterbury Tourism and the Convention Bureau. Caroline will address the roles of both Christchurch & Canterbury Tourism and the Convention Bureau in the development of tourism in our region plus comments on a regional tourism office, Tourism New Zealand and I-site, as well as what we should focus on in the recovery plan for tourism in the region.


Course B

The Plant Kingdom

Course organiser:Neil Fleming

29 May:
Ines Schonberger on 'Early Plant Hunters: 'Dr Ines Schonberger is a Plant Systematist and Herbarium Manager in LandCare. She says that collecting plant specimens (live plants and herbarium specimens - sometimes referred to as “plant hunting”) is an activity that has occurred for centuries. Sometimes, people like Sir Joseph Banks (a wealthy amateur scientist) and Dr Daniel Solander (a scientist trained by Carl Linnaeus) accompanied scientific expeditions for the sole purpose of collecting. At other times, collecting was a hobby and was incorporated into daily activities, as it was for William Colenso. This presentation will give a brief overview of early plant hunters in New Zealand and how their collections continue to influence taxonomic research.

5 Jun:
John Clemens on 'Why do we need Botanic Gardens?: 'John Clemens comes to us from Christchurch Botanic Gardens.

12 Jun:
Steve Wagstaff on 'Impacts of natural disaster on biodiversity in New Zealand:' Steve Wagstaff comes to us from LandCare. He is a research associate affiliated with the Allan Herbarium, He has studied the New Zealand flora for nearly 20 years and has written numerous papers on plant evolution, biogeography and classification. He says "New Zealand is located on the Pacific Rim “ring of fire” and straddles latitudinal zones from the Subantarctic to the Subtropics. Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and tropical cyclones have occurred throughout its evolutionary history. These natural hazards often trigger a cascade of unforeseen and unpredictable events that can have a profound impact on biological diversity."

19 Jun:
Peter Pelser on 'Modern Plant Hunters: 'Peter Pelser comes to us from the University of Canterbury where he is a Lecturer in the School of Biological Sciences. He says "I will talk about my work as a modern plant taxonomist. I will focus on the challenges that contemporary plant collectors are facing, talk about some of the modern tools that we use to learn more about biodiversity, and share some of my field-work experiences in the Philippines. There will be plenty of time to ask me anything you always wanted to know about plant hunting!"

26 Jun:
Colin Neal on 'Plants Endangering New Zealand: 'Colin Neal comes to us from Customs and Security, Christchurch International Airport.


Course C

Farming in Canterbury – Not Just Dairying

Course organiser:Kathryn Ell & Tim de Castro

3 Jul:
John McKenzie on 'The seed Industry: 'John McKenzie is group general manager for PGG Wrightson Seeds and is responsible for all aspects of the company's world wide operations. Amongst other matters he will talk to us about the importance and diversification of the seed industry in Canterbury. In 1986 he founded the forage seed company Agricom. He still has farming interests in mid-Canterbury.

10 Jul:
Doug and Gabi Michael on 'Gladfield Malt: 'Doug and Gabi come to us from Gladfield Malt. For generations the Michael family of Dunsandel have grown prime quality malting barley in Canterbury. Gladfield Malt, established in 2003, builds on this reputation. Doug and Gabi will share their enthusiasm for producing a product that is widely sought after by breweries.

17 Jul:
David Acland on 'Mount Somers Station: 'The Acland family bought Mt Somers station from the Bob Burnett estate in 1983. Having completed his B Ag Sc at Lincoln, done his globe trotting and marrying Kate, David took over management of Mt Somers station in 2010. It is now a large scale sheep, beef and deer farm with a dairy unit added last year. David will tell us how this has been achieved.

24 Jul:
Tom Gilroy on 'The role of nurseries: 'Tom comes from Gilroy Nurseries - a local Garden Centres and Nurseries company.

31 Jul:
Lynda Murchison: Lynda & her husband Jock have farmed a sheep & beef property in the Weka Pass, North Canterbury since 2005. Previously they were at Lake Coleridge where the Murchisons have farmed since 1878. For the last 18 years Lynda has worked in Resource Management for district councils and Ngai Tahu. She is a part time lecturer at UC and President of Nth Canterbury Federated Farmers..


Course D

Emergency Services

Course organiser:Gus Gale

3 Jul:
James Thompson on : 'ECAN-Civil defenseJames is the Leader of The Regional Emergency Management Team and the Canterbury Civil Defence Emergency Management Group.

10 Jul:
Pete Corbett on 'LandSAR: 'Pete is a former Police SAR Coordinator, and now Group Support Manager of NZ Land Search and Rescue (LandSAR). He will provide an overview of the volunteer Organisation that provides Land, Sea and Rescue support services to the NZ Police and will also explore some of the underlying principles and methodologies behind land search.

17 Jul:
Richard Smart on 'Emergency Comms.: 'Richard is currently a Telecom-munications specialist with the NZ Fire Service but in his spare time volunteers with the Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Team in Christchurch. Richard will give a brief introduction to 'Ham Radio' and the role that Amateurs play in emergencies with examples from the Christchurch earthquakes, Land, Sea & Rescue, Hurricane Katrina and the recent Cyclone Lusi.

24 Jul:
Geoff Shaw on 'Intensive care': Prof Shaw is a Senior Intensive Care Specialist at the Christchurch Hospital where most of his patients are "accidental tourists" both literally and metaphorically speaking. Geoff's role is to help those who are at the end result of other Emergency Services coming to their aid.

31 Jul:
John Thompson on 'NZ Coast Guard: '"Coastguard, the Charity Saving Lives at Sea" - John will cover the activities of this charity both nationally and locally with emphasis on its people and their dedication to saving lives in the Canterbury area and with some interesting technical points for those with a nautical bent. John is a retired General Manager of a Large Engineering firm, but for the last 9 years has been a Volunteer Senior Crew Member, and Coxswain (Unit Operations Manager) of the local North Canterbury Coastguard which covers The Waimakariri and Ashley Units in North Canterbury. He will describe how this organisation operates and some of the situations where they are called to help.