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Mother and son to graduate together
The University of the Sunshine Coast’s Graduation ceremony on Friday 30 September will provide the backdrop for a special family celebration for Jane Gavagan of Beerwah and her son Colin of Sippy Downs.
Even though this will be Jane’s third graduation ceremony at USC and Colin’s second, it will be the first time they will grace the stage together in their gowns and trenchers.
Jane, 55, works as a social planner for the Sunshine Coast Council. She already has a Bachelor of Business and a Graduate Certificate in Social Science, and will be stepping forward to receive her Graduate Diploma in Arts, majoring in Justice Studies.
Colin, 27, has been working as a science tutor and a martial arts instructor at the University after completing his Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Science in 2009 and will graduate tomorrow with a Bachelor of Science (Honours).
While Colin said it felt strange being in the same graduating class as his mother, Jane is experiencing a sense of deja vu.
In 2004, she and her mother, Dorothy Goodwin, graduated together from USC – Jane with her degree in Business and Dorothy, who was 76 at the time, with a Bachelor of Arts.
“I’m really looking forward to graduating on Friday,” Jane said. “When I found out that Colin will be graduating too, I thought it was fabulous. It will be really special.”
Jane and Colin both admitted that there was some healthy academic rivalry between them.
“Colin’s put a challenge out there by saying that he will be the first one in the family to do his doctorate,” Jane said.
“We’re a little bit competitive in terms of marks,” Colin added. “Mum’s in the Golden Key Honour Society because she’s really clever, but I didn’t quite get the same high marks as she did … which is why I went for my Honours.
“I think this is a unique opportunity for us to graduate together. It will be kind of odd to graduate with my mum, though.”
— Terry Walsh