Love at UQ 2024
This Valentine's Day, we're back with another edition of Love at UQ. There's something special about reading stories of those who came to UQ for an education and left with love. From bench seats in Forgan Smith, to years spent on Heron Island, join us as we celebrate the special bonds that university life creates.
Win a $150 restaurant voucher
Your next date night is on us. Contact is giving away a $150 dining voucher to use at Patina restaurant, at either the Customs House or Alumni Court locations. Entries close 6pm (QLD time) 20 February 2024. T&Cs apply.
Ian (Bachelor of Arts '84) and Maree
In the heart of the Forgan Smith building, on a wooden bench fondly known as their ‘love seat’, Ian and Maree’s love story unfolded. What began as a chance meeting at Maree’s friend’s house party, where a number of architecture students attended – Ian being one of them – has blossomed into a 51-year marriage with many international adventures and experiences.
At the time they met, 54 years ago, Maree worked at the Department of External Studies in the Forgan Smith building, where – coincidentally – the architecture department was also located. When Maree took her lunch breaks, Ian would join her on a wooden bench seat in the building.
"The courtship at UQ led to marriage in 1972 and we have now celebrated 51 years of marriage," Ian said.
Over the years their keen interests in travel and multicultural experiences have been key to keeping the spark alive. The couple also share a love of kombi vans.
"We lived in a kombi van together for a while… I recommend that for young people. It’ll make the relationship even stronger," Ian said.
"Maree supported me through a change of studies to Anthropology, which led to a career in international development and a number of overseas postings. On retirement, we have re-established contact with UQ as donors and always enjoy the various events we attend. And of course visiting the campus and our old haunts!"
Image: David Kelly
Image: David Kelly
Christopher (Bachelor of Engineering / Bachelor of Economics '11) and KZ (Bachelor of Applied Science '10)
We met in a different setting and found out we both attended UQ (St Lucia), where we started to meet more socially and became a couple. After graduating, we moved to Perth and planned to have our wedding back in Brisbane with family in 2020. Then COVID happened and we had to postpone – twice.
Image: Supplied
Image: Supplied
Little did we know that this would be a blessing, as we welcomed our son in 2021 and he was able to be part of our special day in 2023.
We were able to have our ceremony and reception at the newly refurbished Patina Alumni Court with our family, which was so magical!
Bernie (Doctor of Philosophy '91) and Sandie (Doctor of Philosophy '92, Bachelor of Science (Honours) '84)
I moved from my hometown of New York to Brisbane to study as one of UQ's first international exchange students. I developed an early fascination with the biodiversity of Queensland's Great Barrier Reef, and while at UQ's Heron Island Research Station, I met my future wife.
Bernie and Sandie Degnan on their first date on Heron Island in 1987. Image: Professor Cliff Hawkins
Sandie and I met on the island in 1987 when we each were asked to guide the National Geographic Society Board of Trustees on their visit to Heron Island. The Board was comprised of astonishing explorers and scientists who had accomplished the most incredible things, such as Michael Collins, the Apollo 11 astronaut! Of course, we wanted nothing more than to hear their stories of living with gorillas and climbing Mount Everest and travelling into space, but they in turn were so in awe of Heron Island and its reef that every moment was spent showing them its treasures.
We had our first date studying marine animals on the reef and against the backdrop of this amazing group of people.
In this extraordinary environment, we fell in love and were married 13 months later.
Bernie Degnan, David Attenborough, and Sandie Degnan during filming of David Attenborough's First Life series. Image: BBC
We have now been connected to Heron Island for about 40 years, first as students, then as teachers and as lead researchers. We even helped David Attenborough with filming on the island in 2009 in his Emmy Award-winning series First Life. It became a second home for us and our children, and their time on Heron Island has shaped who they are as young adults and their curiosity for the natural world. It’s no coincidence that they a part of the next generation of scientists.
We each have had many amazing biological encounters on Heron Island. The reef brought us together, and now we’re working hard to develop novel ways to understand and preserve it.
Sandie Degnan and Bernie Degnan on the beach at Heron Island. The image was taken for Not If, When – the Campaign to Create Change.
Bernie and Sandie Degnan on their first date on Heron Island in 1987. Image: Professor Cliff Hawkins
Bernie and Sandie Degnan on their first date on Heron Island in 1987. Image: Professor Cliff Hawkins
Bernie Degnan, David Attenborough, and Sandie Degnan during filming of David Attenborough's First Life series. Image: BBC
Bernie Degnan, David Attenborough, and Sandie Degnan during filming of David Attenborough's First Life series. Image: BBC
Sandie Degnan and Bernie Degnan on the beach at Heron Island. The image was taken for Not If, When – the Campaign to Create Change.
Sandie Degnan and Bernie Degnan on the beach at Heron Island. The image was taken for Not If, When – the Campaign to Create Change.
-
Image: supplied
Image: supplied
Shook Pui (Master of Biotechnology Research Extensive '18) and Elvin (Bachelor of Engineering '17)
Our first encounter was at the Chancellor's Place bus stop at UQ's St Lucia campus. It was where my (now) husband walked up to me and helped me with the directions during my first visit to UQ, and thus began our love story.
He was in his final year of an engineering degree, while I was a freshman.
We enjoyed spending time between classes together, wandering around the campus and creating memories at each and every corner.
We were blessed to have met at UQ, it will always have a special space in our hearts.
Image: supplied
Image: supplied
Chelsea Bachelor of Communications / Bachelor of Journalism (Honours) '21) and Alex (Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Communications '19)
Alex and I met outside the Abel Smith Lecture theatre during O-week back in 2016.
We were introduced by a mutual friend and realised we had a lot in common – we were studying similar degrees, had a love of live music and old sitcoms, and both had a 4-hour gap in between classes on a Tuesday since we messed up our timetables!
Those 4 hours were often spent sitting in the Great Court chatting, drinking copious amounts of coffee at Merlo, or scrambling to finish assignments before a deadline.
Spending so much time together allowed us to become close, and what was a friendship quickly became something more. We have been together almost 8 years now, and have recently moved in together.
Image: supplied
Image: supplied
UQ classmates who became chosen family
Our journey began in the hallowed halls of UQ, where each of us, drawn by a shared passion for education, found ourselves brought together bit by bit during our first year.
What started as casual acquaintances evolved into inseparable bonds as we navigated the challenges of our education degrees. Lunches at Wordies and late-night study sessions in that hidden room in the social sciences building became the backdrop to our forming friendships.
Through the years, we witnessed the ebb and flow of life – relationships blossoming and fading, weddings uniting us in celebration, the pitter-patter of little feet as babies arrived, the joy of buying houses, and the shared laughter of milestone birthdays.
Our connection transcended graduation and moving further away from each other as we started our careers and families, our shared experiences turned us from a group of university friends into a chosen family.
As time passed, our circle expanded to include partners and children, turning our gatherings into reunions of both friends and the cherished families we've created. From our humble beginnings in lecture halls to now vacationing together, our bond remains unbroken.
Image: supplied
Image: supplied
Natalie (Doctor of Philosophy '21, Bachelor of Exercise and Sports Sciences '16) and Angus (Masters of Commerce '18, Bachelor of Exercise and Sports Sciences (Honours) '16)
Angus and I met one fateful day in the first year of our bachelor's degree in 2013. We immediately became great friends.
After tutoring me for countless hours in biomechanics in the second year of our degree (mathematics was not my strong suit), we started dating in April 2014.
UQ holds a special place in our hearts, as it's where we met and 'grew up' together, finishing both our bachelor's degrees, and then my PhD and his Master's.
We now live in Sydney and will be celebrating our 10-year anniversary together in April of this year.
Image: supplied
Image: supplied
Shook Pui (Master of Biotechnology Research Extensive '18) and Elvin (Bachelor of Engineering '17)
Our first encounter was at the Chancellor's Place bus stop at UQ's St Lucia campus. It was where my (now) husband walked up to me and helped me with the directions during my first visit to UQ, and thus began our love story.
He was in his final year of an engineering degree, while I was a freshman.
We enjoyed spending time between classes together, wandering around the campus and creating memories at each and every corner.
We were blessed to have met at UQ, it will always have a special space in our hearts.
Image: supplied
Image: supplied
Chelsea Bachelor of Communications / Bachelor of Journalism (Honours) '21) and Alex (Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Communications '19)
Alex and I met outside the Abel Smith Lecture theatre during O-week back in 2016.
We were introduced by a mutual friend and realised we had a lot in common – we were studying similar degrees, had a love of live music and old sitcoms, and both had a 4-hour gap in between classes on a Tuesday since we messed up our timetables!
Those 4 hours were often spent sitting in the Great Court chatting, drinking copious amounts of coffee at Merlo, or scrambling to finish assignments before a deadline.
Spending so much time together allowed us to become close, and what was a friendship quickly became something more. We have been together almost 8 years now, and have recently moved in together.
Image: supplied
Image: supplied
UQ classmates who became chosen family
Our journey began in the hallowed halls of UQ, where each of us, drawn by a shared passion for education, found ourselves brought together bit by bit during our first year.
What started as casual acquaintances evolved into inseparable bonds as we navigated the challenges of our education degrees. Lunches at Wordies and late-night study sessions in that hidden room in the social sciences building became the backdrop to our forming friendships.
Through the years, we witnessed the ebb and flow of life – relationships blossoming and fading, weddings uniting us in celebration, the pitter-patter of little feet as babies arrived, the joy of buying houses, and the shared laughter of milestone birthdays.
Our connection transcended graduation and moving further away from each other as we started our careers and families, our shared experiences turned us from a group of university friends into a chosen family.
As time passed, our circle expanded to include partners and children, turning our gatherings into reunions of both friends and the cherished families we've created. From our humble beginnings in lecture halls to now vacationing together, our bond remains unbroken.
Image: supplied
Image: supplied
Natalie (Doctor of Philosophy '21, Bachelor of Exercise and Sports Sciences '16) and Angus (Masters of Commerce '18, Bachelor of Exercise and Sports Sciences (Honours) '16)
Angus and I met one fateful day in the first year of our bachelor's degree in 2013. We immediately became great friends.
After tutoring me for countless hours in biomechanics in the second year of our degree (mathematics was not my strong suit), we started dating in April 2014.
UQ holds a special place in our hearts, as it's where we met and 'grew up' together, finishing both our bachelor's degrees, and then my PhD and his Master's.
We now live in Sydney and will be celebrating our 10-year anniversary together in April of this year.
Cathy (Bachelor of Veterinary Science '91) and Rod (Bachelor of Veterinary Science '91)
We met during O Week at UQ. All the first-year vet students from our year were taken on a bus to JC Slaughter Falls at Mt Coot-tha, where we were put in groups to participate in some great competitive games.
We were put in the same group for 3-legged races, then, among others, had lots of fun singing songs on the bus on the way back to uni. That was the beginning of a relationship full of laughter, fun and adventure, which continues to this day, but with the addition of 3 happy and fun-loving children joining us on our adventures.
Image: supplied
Image: supplied
Our uni years were filled with travelling to the vet farm together; playing tennis at the UQ courts; racing into lectures 5 minutes late; staying up all night studying for exams in SWOTVAC; going canoeing, bushwalking, camping and four-wheel-driving in Rod's old Landrover with our beloved Springer Spaniel, Patches, and with lots of great friends, always surrounded by plenty of music, singing and kicking a ball or throwing a frisbee.
This year marks our 30th wedding anniversary. We regularly go back to UQ, as we love it there. We still think it is such a beautiful campus and it has so many great memories for us.
Image: supplied
Image: supplied
We successfully brainwashed our children, who have all lived and/or studied at UQ, and one day, we plan on getting some professional family photos in the beautiful Great Court surrounded by jacaranda trees.
Prasanjit (Masters of Engineering Management '16) and Sayli (Masters of Architecture '15)
We met at one of the social groups, UQ International Student Society (UQ ISS). I was studying Masters of Engineer Management and she was studying Masters of Architecture. We also stayed a street away from each other in St Lucia.
We have wonderful memories of the Schonell Theatre, UQ Lakes, and the Red Room.
The stunning architecture of the Great Court and evening walks around the campus were the fuel to our brewing romance.
We were blessed to have met as UQ students and to have had such a wonderful and happy life together.
Even though we were in different courses, we helped each other grow and support each other.
Image: supplied
Image: supplied
Venushi (Bachelor of Engineering / Bachelor or Science '18) and Lachlan (Bachelor of Engineering / Masters of Engineering '18)
We were both studying chemical engineering and he sat next to me in a lecture in second year. I didn't know who he was, but he was cute.
Later that year, we joined the same UQ Interfaculty Competitions (UQIC) touch team through mutual friends and that's when we started dating. Seven years later (last year), we got married and we now live and work in Gladstone, pursuing our nerdy engineering careers.
We have fond memories the of late nights at the old Chemical Engineering building, cheap drinks at ChESS smokos, $1.50 scones from Physiol Cafe, and sitting by the UQ lakes for lunch. We are thankful we got to meet our soulmates at UQ.
Image: supplied
Image: supplied
Image: supplied
Image: supplied
James (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery '14, Graduate Certificate in Executive Leadership ' 14, Bachelor of Business Management '10, Bachelor of Science '10) and Kimberley (Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Laws '11)
When we met, it seemed like our worlds had been circling around each other but never quite connecting. We had lots of shared friends but our paths didn't cross until one fateful gap in class schedules, when our mutual friend Pat invited Kim to come along and hang out with a bunch of us at Wordies. It was a few years later that we finally had the opportunity, and it was the Pizza Café that led to a 'first date' under the jacarandas overlooking the sports fields.
While talking about the lives we'd lead and the lives we wanted to lead, we realised this was forever and it's been a whirlwind journey ever since.
This year marks our 10-year wedding anniversary, after our first date 17 years ago at UQ. Since then, we have bought a house down the road and raised 2 kids, who play hockey and tennis at UQ, giving us an excuse to come back and reminisce most weeks!
It's safe to say this magical part of Brisbane has had – and will always have – a special place in our hearts.
Image: supplied
Image: supplied
Image: supplied
Image: supplied
Venushi (Bachelor of Engineering / Bachelor or Science '18) and Lachlan (Bachelor of Engineering / Masters of Engineering '18)
We were both studying chemical engineering and he sat next to me in a lecture in second year. I didn't know who he was, but he was cute.
Later that year, we joined the same UQ Interfaculty Competitions (UQIC) touch team through mutual friends and that's when we started dating. Seven years later (last year), we got married and we now live and work in Gladstone, pursuing our nerdy engineering careers.
We have fond memories the of late nights at the old Chemical Engineering building, cheap drinks at ChESS smokos, $1.50 scones from Physiol Cafe, and sitting by the UQ lakes for lunch. We are thankful we got to meet our soulmates at UQ.
Image: supplied
Image: supplied
Image: supplied
Image: supplied
James (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery '14, Graduate Certificate in Executive Leadership ' 14, Bachelor of Business Management '10, Bachelor of Science '10) and Kimberley (Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Laws '11)
When we met, it seemed like our worlds had been circling around each other but never quite connecting. We had lots of shared friends but our paths didn't cross until one fateful gap in class schedules, when our mutual friend Pat invited Kim to come along and hang out with a bunch of us at Wordies. It was a few years later that we finally had the opportunity, and it was the Pizza Café that led to a 'first date' under the jacarandas overlooking the sports fields.
While talking about the lives we'd lead and the lives we wanted to lead, we realised this was forever and it's been a whirlwind journey ever since.
This year marks our 10-year wedding anniversary, after our first date 17 years ago at UQ. Since then, we have bought a house down the road and raised 2 kids, who play hockey and tennis at UQ, giving us an excuse to come back and reminisce most weeks!
It's safe to say this magical part of Brisbane has had – and will always have – a special place in our hearts.
Image: supplied
Image: supplied
Harley (Bachelor of Journalism / Bachelor of Arts (Honours) '14) and David (Master of International Studies '16)
Harley and David met in one of their final undergraduate classes in 2013, while David was on a study exchange from Spain.
After completing her undergraduate studies in Criminology and Journalism at UQ (2013), Harley celebrated with a trip to Thailand with David.
After a subsequent year of long distance, David moved back to Australia to be with Harley and earned his Masters in International Studies at UQ (2016).
Image: supplied
Image: supplied
Circumstances then took David to Belgium, but after 4 more years of long distance, and during the height of the pandemic, Harley completed her PHD then moved over to Belgium to be with him. They have been together for 10 years now and love to travel together and explore nature. It was fitting that during a trip to Norway, David proposed under the Northern Lights.
Image: supplied
Image: supplied
In September this year, they are getting married in David’s hometown of Sevilla, and are looking forward to coming back to Brisbane to spend Christmas with Harley’s family and friends as newlyweds.
Do you have a UQ love story?
We'd love to hear it! Share your story below to be featured in the next edition of Love at UQ or on social media.
Built with Shorthand