As a first year student at Melbourne Uni in 1997, I had been a Christian for less than a year and I was homesick. My first memory of Cathy is of her welcoming me to a pizza (I think; probably) lunch. Probably as a direct consequence of this warm welcome, from Cathy and others, I maintained a strong connection with the CU over 7 or so years of intermittent university attendance. Cathy and Dave were both important parts of that: teaching, encouraging, and becoming friends. The encouragement included being asked to join the student committee, and after leaving university to join the 'regional action group' - a group that helps oversee the work of the CU. So I blame Dave, largely, for my being involved at that early stage in various committees, especially as secretary, which is an infliction I continue to bear. Both Cathy and Dave taught me important lessons about growing in Christ. Meeting someone as generous and gentle as Cathy when I was so young as a Christian was massively important; I'd never before seen that as an important part of living for Christ. It continues to be a challenge, since it's not my natural state of being. Leading a Bible study with Dave helped me in understanding Bible stories themselves but also how to convey those truths to others - and these days I'm a teacher, so it's had an impact even more broadly. And their friendship to me - young, naive, etc - is a great example in how patient, kind and generous I should be in loving my younger Christian sisters and brothers.
Alex was at Melbourne University between 1997 and 2000. And then in 2003. And also 2009-10. These days, she teaches History and English.
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