U3A George offers varied February programme

Mike Holland will explore historic mechanical failures, explaining how these incidents shaped modern engineering safety and risk management practices.

GEORGE NEWS - The University of the Third Age (U3A) has lined up an informative and entertaining programme for February, featuring travel, engineering and photography topics.

The programme opens on Wednesday 11 February with an Armchair Travel presentation by Paul Rixom, who will take members and visitors on an illustrated journey through Nepal. He will share highlights from a challenging 130km trek through the Langtang National Park in the Himalayas, undertaken in 2025 with his wife, son and niece.

The 10-day expedition reached altitudes of up to 5 000m north of Kathmandu. A retired geologist and accomplished photographer, Rixom is an associate member of the Photographic Society of South Africa and a long-standing U3A member. The talk starts at 14:00, and visitors are welcome.

On Friday 20 February, U3A will host Mike Holland for a presentation about notable mechanical catastrophes and the modern philosophy for prevention. He will explore historic mechanical failures, including ships breaking apart, boiler explosions and a dramatic pressure vessel failure, explaining how these incidents shaped modern engineering safety and risk management practices.

Holland holds a degree in physical metallurgy and has extensive experience in failure investigations at Sasol and Mossgas. A former president of the South African Institute of Welding and recipient of the Harvey Shacklock Gold Medal, Holland is also a past chairperson of George and Wilderness U3A. Refreshments will be served at 10:00, and the talk starts at 10:30.

The AGM will take place on Wednesday 25 February followed by a popular presentation by the Digiclub showcasing their best photographs of the year.

All events will be held at the Emmaüs Hall in Memorium Street, and visitors are always welcome.