Community & Business
5 February, 2026
Pittsworth hosts U3A open day
The University of the Third Age (U3A) held its open day in Pittsworth on January 30 with retired and semi-retired people signing up for various classes before the term began on Tuesday.
The relaxed morning gave people the opportunity to meet with the tutors and admin staff to learn more about each class.
The Pittsworth branch operates under the auspices of the Toowoomba branch with local, Inge Gajczak, as the co-ordinator.
Toowoomba U3A President, Penny Protheroe, said the classes cater for people of all backgrounds, with many retired professionals and business owners joining the ranks of the U3A.
Ms Protheroe said Ms Gajczak is a fantastic asset for the Pittsworth branch, and has been working as the co-ordinator since stalwart Lyndall Madden resigned from the position in 2023.
It was a nostalgic drive out to Pittsworth for Ms Protheroe (who is also the co-ordinator for Crows Nest U3A) as her grandparents worked a dairy farm at Southbrook.
On one occasion, she can recall her grandmother telling her as a young child that they would be going on a big trip.
Well, that “big trip” was only to Pittsworth and back!
Ms Protheroe said the challenge that Toowoomba U3A (and its affiliated branches) currently face is not having enough resources, namely tutors, to be able to offer more classes.
Despite this, she said U3A has begun to attract a younger audience, with some students in their 40s signing up to the program.
There’s still time to enquire about the U3A classes offered in Pittsworth which include photo editing, photography, ukulele for beginners, cryptic crosswords, singing for fun, art and line dancing.
For more information, contact Ms Gajczak directly on 4693 1915.
The U3A first began at the University of Toulouse in France in 1972 where non-credit courses in the natural sciences and humanities were offered to older people.
The first U3A programs began in Australia in 1985 in Melbourne.
There are currently 36 U3As in Queensland including U3A Online with an estimated 25,000 members.
This year is the Pittsworth branch’s 15th anniversary.
Peter Daley (then manager of the Council Service Centre) and Ros Scotney (then Toowoomba Region Councillor) attended the Seniors Expo in 2011 with the intention of finding out about U3A and if there could be a place for it in Pittsworth.
The response was very encouraging, and a local meeting was held with over 70 people in attendance, to discuss how the organisation might be run in our town.
With the time and generosity of many volunteers - the rest they say is history!
