Shiftwork meant Roslyn and Lloyd Cooper didn’t see much of each other during the first nine years of their marriage. But as full-time UQ Ipswich students, they’ve spent the past three years “in each other’s pockets”.
The former midwife and RAAF avionics technician will graduate Bachelor of Information Environments at a 6pm ceremony in Ipswich Civic Hall on December 16, as two of the highest achievers in their year.
Their complementary strengths (hers in design and attention to detail, his in technical expertise) paved the way.
In fact Roslyn, who says she was computer-illiterate when she plunged into the program, found first year such a struggle that she would have dropped out without Lloyd’s help.
They took classes, worked on team projects and studied together. In their spare time, they continued restoring their century-old Queenslander home.
“It’s been a great experience,” Roslyn said, “but it’s also meant that for three years we haven’t had individual lives. We’re definitely individuals, but luckily we also get on really well as a couple.
“UQ Ipswich facilities are absolutely fantastic and student life has been great. The long holidays have been especially good, because while we’re totally focused on study during semester we’ve also had time to work on the house.”
The house, with big verandahs and high pressed-metal ceilings, has its own story as the spoils of a garage sale.
“While Ros was picking over the sale I was checking out this great house,” Lloyd said.
“I asked if the owners had thought of selling and they said an agent was appraising it that afternoon. They phoned me later, we settled on a price, and it was ours.”
Their next move depends on where the work is in their new profession. They’ve already lived in Victoria and Queensland and the field is wide open.
Roslyn is interested in a career in a health-related field and Lloyd in multimedia and design. But first up their main concern is work experience — in Web development, network systems and everything else related to IT.
Media: For more information, contact Roslyn and Lloyd Cooper (email s371773@student.uq.edu.au) or Loretta Porche, Marketing and Development Officer, UQ Ipswich (telephone 07 3381 1068 or 0418 772 819).
