In 2003 I took a giant leap and enrolled in a Law Degree at Macquarie University. It was something I wanted to do from the time I left school, but never had the opportunity to do.
As many of you would know, life has taken me down differing paths, but yesterday I celebrated with my family, an important pit-stop along the way.
It's ironic, but a yesterdays graduation ceremony I actually said to myself. "are you sure you are really sitting here?"
It hasn't always been easy, but there is no sense of achievement in life without having to work hard for it. I equate my law degree to having run a marathon and fallen just over the finish line!
I want to take this opportunity to say thank you to a few people for getting me through to the finish.
There a large number of people in both Bathurst and Coffs Harbour as well as old Albies mates, who kept patting me on the back, all along the way. They will never know how much small words of encouragement have helped me focus and keep going. So to all of you, thanks for saying "good on you".
I'd to thank all of my family and friends for their support and encouragement over the last 8 years. To Liam and Junie, Maria, Simmo and the girls. It's amazing what you can achieve when those around you keep encouraging you to do your best.
I am especially grateful to the Sydney connection of the Shaw and Conlon families for feeding, housing and supporting me each time I was in Sydney for uni.
I'd like to thank Robyn for getting me my first job in the law game and Heather McKinnon for taking a punt on the oldest Law Clerk to ever walk through her door.
I know that I have spent at least the last four years buried in books, judgments and journal articles. This has meant I have been a little absent as a dad and I apologise to Georgia, Lilli, Mac, Ollie and Poppy for not being around as much as I should have been. I hope that our collective sacrifice will be worth it for all of us. It gave me a great amount of happiness to have you all my graduation yesterday, sharing it with me. There is certainly more of you than when I graduated in my first degree.
Of course, I missed the little bloke and when the Dean read out my name I said, "thank you Hugie" so that he knew that he will always be a part of anything I do in my life.
I promised my Dad before we lost him that I would wear his tie on my graduation day. You'll see in the photos a very ragged 1987 Rugby World Cup tie, but it's the only one he every really wore. I know he would have been proud of me yesterday and can hear him say, "well done pal!"
I'd like to save my greatest thanks for my beautiful wife Rachael. There is no doubt that she has once again put her own life goals on the back burner, just so I could achieve mine.
She is selfless and there is absolutely no way I could have graduated without her taking up the slack I left behind, whilst I was studying. She never once questioned why I decided to study law, she only offered her love and support. She is also more beautiful to me today than she was when I first laid eyes on her.
love to all
APS
No comments:
Post a Comment