What Others Say

Unleashing your creative spirit

No tutor, but course material provided was informative, relevant suggestions and ideas.

I am new to U3A Online but found course access very good, it was great to be able to download content in PDF format so could read offline.

Sandra Feb 2021

Oct 2021

Autobiography & Journaling

 Well, actually this course exceeded my expectations. I didn’t expect to get so much benefit from doing even just 10 minutes of writing every day. I’ve been writing up a storm, and the memories just keep coming…amazing. This has to be good for the brain too.

I am in relative isolation due to failing physical health (and Covid). I will need cataracts removed soon and look forward to being able to do more from this course and other courses offered by U3A when my sight is better. I appreciate being able to do so many courses on-line. So much to do…so little time.

Maureen Burton

I find that navigating in U3A on line is bewildering 

and counter intuitive

A few years ago, I did the Autobiography and Journalling Course under Mardi’s guidance. I’m a slow learner and so, I participated as a student three times.  At the time I had two dreams; one was to write my late husband’s story, the other was to compile my family story as it was told to me by my grandfather in 1983. 

Mardi’s course gave me a structure to work with and the confidence to do it and to stop thinking my writing wasn’t good enough.  I wrote both books and Splinters (the family story) is available on Amazon now.  In honesty, neither are writing marvels, but it’s the truths they contain that I still believe worthy of the telling.

During Covid, I was presented with the time necessary to write a third book; “10.55 to Cranbourne” the story of my son’s train vs semi-trailer level crossing crash in outer Melbourne in 2012.  This too is now available on Amazon.  For those interested, the back cover says …

One Saturday morning in outer Melbourne, a semi-trailer is en route from the Melbourne wholesale markets to Dandenong, laden with vegetables and flowers. The driver is tired and losing concentration. A Metro train is on the 10.55 run from Flinders Street to Cranbourne. The driver, 30 year old Trevor King, is on his last run for the day and for his working week. They are both approaching the Abbotts Road level crossing. The warning bells sound, the lights flash and the boom gates come down but the truck driver doesn’t notice. The train driver blasts his whistle, and still the truck doesn’t slow down… A life is lost, several are injured and the train driver is critically injured.

Originally intended as a comprehensive record of the events for the train driver, who has no recall; this is the story of the events that follow and the train driver's journey along the jagged line that divides life and death. It is told by his mother using her journal entries, messages to friends, media reports, photographs and memories shared by the driver’s wife and others who were there.

https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B08MQ3766G

So, I’m writing to acknowledge the value of the lessons I learned with Mardi at U3a Online and to say, if you have a story in you, write it and don’t let your own worst enemy (yourself) tell you that you can’t.  I may never write a best seller, but I know I have written three stories that would otherwise be lost in the fullness of time.   I’m very grateful for what I learned.

Thank you,

Susan Warburton 

Mardi’s Autobiography and Journalling Classes of 2014, 2015 and 2016

Climate Change
I enjoyed the general information about climate change and how the planet works to bring itself into equilibrium and the climate systems. The units involving scientific and mathematical formulas were a bit beyond my comprehension.
I wanted information on what is happening in climate change, what we can do locally and what we should be doing globally. This was all covered plus information about the planet and climate systems.

Unleashing Your Creative Spirit

really enjoyed the informal approach and the many links offered

Property to Partner

Thoroughly enjoyed the journey this course took me through. I would suggest that you could add a few links to relevant videos (eg suffragettes, Greenham Common, women in ancient history etc).  Also in final unit, and as you are offering courses to a worldwide audience, suggest amending the questions to a more global perspective.

It can be difficult to make time to follow a solo study course -

This course would work really well as if studied as a group meeting regularly to share  research and debate the topics raised.

Introduction to Western Philosophy

Forum discussions certainly were helpful. I was fortunate enough to do the course with two others who were very good at sharing their thoughts, as well as new sources of information. Their contributions were always eagerly awaited and so often contained lines of thoughts that I had not considered. The course would have been much more challenging without them.

Introduction to Western Philosophy

Being involved in forum discussions with fellow students was a hugely positive experience.  I usually felt rushed to complete discussion submissions before I had really given the subject the attention it deserved. Some of the areas covered are very challenging in terms of personal beliefs etc.  and more time to think and reflect and explore new ideas could only be good.

Introduction to Western Philosophy

I loved it + found the whole thing very stimulating  and it made me hungry for more

Autobiography & Journaling with Leader -
I found this course to be an amazing way to interact with such a diverse group of people from across Australia and internationally. We all shared the common interest in writing, had wildly varying levels of skill and experience, but were all encouraged equally to “keep writing”.
The tutor gave exceptional support – extra information, suggestions, resources, ideas – encourages participants to share their own helpful resources

A & J with leader

Only a small group, but over the course we enjoyed the diversity of each other’s writing and being able to comment on one another’s work.
Lots of encouragement from the course leader  Mardi Sands  - other participants very supportive, friendly and encouraging.

Autobiography & Journaling -
 enjoyed this course more so when I realised no deadlines to meet, so stress free, yet took me out of my comfort zone though – really great!
Just right, got the old grey matter working that’s for sure.  Having the notes provides the opportunity to virtually go through the whole course again at own leisure. Excellent.

Although it is a topic that I know a lot about, I still found new things I didn’t know (like the film of Conan Doyle)and I really appreciated the links to such a variety of interesting topics, both modern and historic.

The course is both entertaining and educational.

I was able to trace ancestors that I thought I would never be able to find.

I have done this course twice and can see how I would benefit from doing it again as my autobiography is a work in progress.  I have considerable demands on my time (family commitments, long stints of around the clock babysitting), plus I travel a fair bit.  I’m grateful for the flexibility Mardi and the class have allowed me to participate when I am able and to not be judgemental when I’m unable to complete assigned tasks.

It helped me in becoming creative again after a lapse, gave me focus and ideas and the other course participants were also very inspiring

Confirmed a number of previous assumptions and provided me with food for thought moving forward.

     I enjoyed the course with Mardi.  She worked very hard to make it interesting and inclusive against quite some odds.  Unfortunately the commitment level of students did not rise to that enthusiasm.  If one signs up for such interactive courses then the idea is surely that everyone participates for the good  of all participants ?  To push oneself beyond the comfort zone is surely what education is about at whatever age ?

Excellent tutor. I learned  how to do Journaling and to write about my life in a meaningful and a organised way.

Provide technique to draw on memory and experience to really enhance what I consider was a low aptitude to write a story.

Discussion with other students was very helpful and the tutor is excellent, provides great examples and comments.

Very good course well worth doing with something for everybody in keeping your brain working. Although I was the only person on the course Jean was very supportive via the forum

Very good course well worth doing with something for everybody in keeping your brain working. Although I was the only person on the course Jean was very supportive via the forum

I learnt a wellrounded history  of the Monarchs, as well as filling in the blank spaces in my knowledge. I did so much enjoy the writer’s personal comments and views. it was a well-written and documented course.

I learnt a well rounded history  of the Monarchs, as well as filling in the blank spaces in my knowledge. I did so much enjoy the writer’s personal comments and views. it was a well-written and documented course.

Our independent Study group of 10 people is just coming to the end of Story of Science 4 Astronomy & the Behavioural Sciences, which takes us right up to the present day.   An  incredible 4 years of fascinating study -  we read the material individually then meet once a month to discuss that Unit and take it in turns to lead the discussion.   I don't know how Leslie has managed to keep up to date with all the various branches of science so effectively as well as finding the time to organise and present the material so clearly. So do persevere, each Unit is fascinating .   Sadly we will have to find a new topic for next year.