What Others Say

I feel that I have now gained sufficient basic knowledge to enable me to continue studying in this area. The identification of specimens is something I have been unable to do, despite trying since the first botany course. This comprehensive course has been of great help to me and I thank all involved.

I thank George very much. He put a lot into this course.

I thank George very much. He put a lot into this course.

I found this a useful foundation course. Inevitably doing the course in the UK I was unfamiliar with some of the Australian examples but I still found it interesting.

I found this a useful foundation course. Inevitably doing the course in the UK I was unfamiliar with some of the Australian examples but I still found it interesting.

Lifelong love affair with plants has been enhanced by this course. Gives new dimensions to garden design and construction for me. Finally have a grasp on what wattle/gum tree really is.

Lifelong love affair with plants has been enhanced by this course. Gives new dimensions to garden design and construction for me. Finally have a grasp on what wattle/gum tree really is.

NO complaints from me about course quality or processes. I am still working through exercises when time is available. Great help with own garden projects. Brilliant.

NO complaints from me about course quality or processes. I am still working through exercises when time is available. Great help with own garden projects. Brilliant.

I enjoyed the lecture notes. I took the course to brush up on Botany done years ago in a Science Degree and I achieved that; it stimulated me to read more on the subject.

I enjoyed the lecture notes. I took the course to brush up on Botany done years ago in a Science Degree and I achieved that; it stimulated me to read more on the subject.

I thank you for your assistance and guidance in this course. The course has provided me with some inspiration to carry on with a project which has lapsed in recent times. I am trying to develop a list of endemic plants, put it on a database and collect seeds to grow as many local species as I can. The local area has high rainfall and in the past has been heavily logged - Toona Australis being the most sort after. We have 15 on our property, planted by the previous owner, and in nearby forests and National Parks there are numerous juvenile examples and one or two mature examples. There are many other species that were logged and I watch with interest the regeneration that is taking place on our place (12 acres) and the newly created Wallaroo National Park over the road. I am interested in any other courses that may help me with an idea that I have been trying to develop over the past few years. I would like to adopt a wholistic approach to my area to include Human and Natural history and recognise their interaction. The idea could be applied at a local level anywhere. On another subject, I take my 3 y.o. grandson on walks around our place and he can already recognise some species. I might say to him "this is a Paperbark, lets see if we can see some more" and he keeps count! He can already identify some other species. Once again, thank you.

I thank you for your assistance and guidance in this course. The course has provided me with some inspiration to carry on with a project which has lapsed in recent times. I am trying to develop a list of endemic plants, put it on a database and collect seeds to grow as many local species as I can. The local area has high rainfall and in the past has been heavily logged - Toona Australis being the most sort after. We have 15 on our property, planted by the previous owner, and in nearby forests and National Parks there are numerous juvenile examples and one or two mature examples. There are many other species that were logged and I watch with interest the regeneration that is taking place on our place (12 acres) and the newly created Wallaroo National Park over the road. I am interested in any other courses that may help me with an idea that I have been trying to develop over the past few years. I would like to adopt a wholistic approach to my area to include Human and Natural history and recognise their interaction. The idea could be applied at a local level anywhere. On another subject, I take my 3 y.o. grandson on walks around our place and he can already recognise some species. I might say to him "this is a Paperbark, lets see if we can see some more" and he keeps count! He can already identify some other species. Once again, thank you.

I really enjoyed this course and actually presented it to our U3A group here in Maryborough Victoria. We are only a small group but over half our members were turning up to sessions so it really was a hit. Congratulations and thank you for all your hard work in preparing the course.

I really enjoyed this course and actually presented it to our U3A group here in Maryborough Victoria. We are only a small group but over half our members were turning up to sessions so it really was a hit. Congratulations and thank you for all your hard work in preparing the course.

Got my hand lens through Ebay, was just so simple, I don‘t have the mobility to "go shopping" so that was the next best thing. I have discovered a whole new world and I am so glad you told us how to use a hand lens, I would have thought mine didn’t work!! there is a fine line between seeing and not seeing something but my goodness even catching a glimpse of your fingernail is rather an experience. As you can imagine I am going around the garden looking at everything, just amazing thank you for opening my eyes.

Got my hand lens through Ebay, was just so simple, I don‘t have the mobility to "go shopping" so that was the next best thing. I have discovered a whole new world and I am so glad you told us how to use a hand lens, I would have thought mine didn’t work!! there is a fine line between seeing and not seeing something but my goodness even catching a glimpse of your fingernail is rather an experience. As you can imagine I am going around the garden looking at everything, just amazing thank you for opening my eyes.

I believe the course gave a clear explanation of the basics of plant structure and the important function of plants in our ecology. It also gave me a far greater understanding of and respect for the role that plants play in maintaining life on our planet.

I believe the course gave a clear explanation of the basics of plant structure and the important function of plants in our ecology. It also gave me a far greater understanding of and respect for the role that plants play in maintaining life on our planet.

The course was an eye opener for me, the technicals I struggled with, but found the websites and high school books much easier to follow. I see that is is important to have a bit of an overview, especially as everything is being researched in much more detail, more actual knowledge. It’s good to have a grid to go from. Surprisingly, I found the history and biographies interested me most, in fact endlessly. I am continuing to read in areas unknown to me before. I’ll do Australian Flora as a follow on. Thank you.

The course was an eye opener for me, the technicals I struggled with, but found the websites and high school books much easier to follow. I see that is is important to have a bit of an overview, especially as everything is being researched in much more detail, more actual knowledge. It’s good to have a grid to go from. Surprisingly, I found the history and biographies interested me most, in fact endlessly. I am continuing to read in areas unknown to me before. I’ll do Australian Flora as a follow on. Thank you.

It was very interesting to be directed towards research into how the world as a whole is coping or not with global problems such as climate change and pollution.

It was very interesting to be directed towards research into how the world as a whole is coping or not with global problems such as climate change and pollution.

This course was not easy, however it made one think and re-evaluate opinions and thoughts. For me, it was important to join a tutored course, as this gave more structure to studying. Feedback is important in the learning process. Time taken up by a course which is of interest can be considerable.

This course was not easy, however it made one think and re-evaluate opinions and thoughts. For me, it was important to join a tutored course, as this gave more structure to studying. Feedback is important in the learning process. Time taken up by a course which is of interest can be considerable.

This was my first course attempted online and I have enjoyed the information that I have learnt and I am looking forward to doing another course. I would also like to thank the course writer Dr John Cowley for the wide variety in the topics.

This was my first course attempted online and I have enjoyed the information that I have learnt and I am looking forward to doing another course. I would also like to thank the course writer Dr John Cowley for the wide variety in the topics.

I'm really enjoying the course so far. I have all the lessons now and I think that I've enough to occupy me for the rest of my life, for which I thank you. I'll spend the rest of my life amplifying the entries and hopefully will have something worthwhile to leave my kids and grandchildren etc. Thank you.

I'm really enjoying the course so far. I have all the lessons now and I think that I've enough to occupy me for the rest of my life, for which I thank you. I'll spend the rest of my life amplifying the entries and hopefully will have something worthwhile to leave my kids and grandchildren etc. Thank you.

Congratulations for the way you have prepared this course, and for the inclusion of all those additional sources which we now know are available on the internet. I have made several attempts at writing my life story without getting very far and now I have the confidence to get on with it.