Regular giving to UNE provides a consistent and highly valued income stream supporting a range of people and projects.
In the case of Simon Scott, monthly donations to Robb College Foundation Scholarships also recall fond times within UNE’s residential colleges and his first job upon graduating with a Bachelor of Arts.
“My life at UNE and as a resident of Earle Page College (EPC) was a five-year odyssey of adventure, learning and personal development”
“My life at UNE and as a resident of Earle Page College (EPC) was a five-year odyssey of adventure, learning and personal development,” said Simon, who met his future wife Rowena Croft in the wings of an EPC theatre production in 1993.
“Hailing from Emerald, in Central Queensland, I had been to boarding school and was used to living far from home, so settled into college life like a duck to water. I got involved in everything, including serving on the Junior Common Room (JCR) for three years and as president in 1992.
“The JCR was a highlight for me, as was being a Resident Fellow in 1994. It completely directed my career path into university accommodation management, which only concluded early last year. I am a big believer in the benefits of living and learning at university and often regaled my residents with old ‘war stories’ from my EPC days.”
Rowena and Simon’s paths crossed again two years after their stage debut. In his first task in his first job, as Deputy Head of UNE’s Robb College, Simon sat on the selection panel for the position Rowena applied for – as a Resident Tutor.
“The rest, as they say, is history,” said Simon, who offered pastoral care, discipline and welfare support until mid-1998. “We were married and had our first child while living in Robb, and Rowena completed her dual degree in law and theatre studies and was a Resident Tutor in West Court from 1995-97.”
Simon credits his EPC leadership experiences and love of college life for securing that professional start.
“It was a challenge managing behaviour and community standards in a residential environment where some of the residents were my age or older,” he said of Robb in the 1990s. “I certainly owe a lot to my first mentors – then Head of Earle Page, Philip Raymont; Head of Robb College, Jan Wyles; and Wal Whalley, a member of the Robb College Senior Common Room – who each provided sage advice and guidance in those early years.”
The Robb College position launched a 24-year career for Simon, most of which was devoted to the University of Queensland’s Gatton Halls of Residence, where he became responsible for a $4.5 million operation and almost 450 student rooms.
“Rowena and I are both advocates of life-long learning,” he said. “I completed many professional development courses through UQ and a Master’s degree in leadership. Rowena completed a primary school teaching degree and, more recently, qualified as a counsellor and now has her own practice.
“Our combined experience in residential accommodation and community engagement has now led us to Cambodia, where we own a boutique resort in Siem Reap.”
“We have both always been very grateful for our time in college at UNE so were happy to support the Robb College Foundation fundraising drive. While we could not contribute a significant sum, we felt that a monthly donation would, over time, enable more young people to share in the incredible experience of living in a UNE residential college.”
To set up a regular donation to UNE in support of a cause dear to your heart, contact advance@une.edu.au
