After a break from schooling of 48 years, and after retiring due to a stroke, I went along to the UTAS open day in August 2014, and later met the UPP unit coordinator Dr Nicole Crawford. In February of 2015, I commenced my new life at university.

In the first two years, I managed to complete seven units in the University Preparation Program and an extra unit in an Associate Degree in Arts.

Nicole, and her fellow lecturers and tutors, Kylie, Merran, Alan, Barbara, Rob, Susan and Zoe, and admin staff Sharon and Gemma, were so helpful over a two-year period.

The UPP course is designed for students who wish to do a degree course at UTAS, but do not meet the entry requirements.

They may not have completed Year 11 and 12, they may wish to have a career change, their children may have grown up and there is now an opportunity to do something they have always dreamed about.

They may want to prove to themselves and their family members and friends that they are capable of studying at UTAS.

Or, they could be like me, a 67-year-old mature age student, who enjoyed every minute of the University Preparation Program, and for the past two years has been working towards a Bachelor of Arts degree.

John Denne, Longford.

ALAN Birchmore, your words of the splendour of that rushing river, the South Esk, might be very romantic but far from a realistic picture.

Historically the South Esk would have flowed during and after periods of high inflow into its catchment area, and stopped flowing during and after periods of low inflow, as for any river.

Similarly, if power generation at Trevallyn Power Station were to be discontinued, and water allowed to pass through Trevallyn Dam unregulated, Lake Trevallyn would fill and then empty following this same cycle.

If the full surface level of Lake Trevallyn was to be maintained, water flow through the dam would need to be regulated, again resulting in inflow and no flow through Cataract Gorge.

Your vision of a constant rushing river is a dream.

Ross Warren, Devonport.

IS commonsense something you learn or are you born with? Not many people have it. I think you can learn commonsense as long as you can find somebody with common sense to teach it to you.

You can teach yourself commonsense and that will take a lifetime. It would be a great world if only we could teach people common sense.

Bruce Cassidy, Norwood.

BRAVO to Joe Di Sario who entertained a large crowd gathered at City Park on Sunday. It was shady and warm (not hot) and Joe sang for two hours non-stop to the delight of his audience, ending with a danceathon. What a marathon, thank you, Joe, for a magical afternoon.

Jill Clark, Riverside.