CQUniversity alumnus David Donohue graduated from the Capricornia Institute of Advanced Education (CIAE) with a Bachelor of Arts in 1984. Since then he has followed a varied career in public relations and communications. Based in his hometown of Townsville, David was recently a guest speaker at Townsville’s recent inaugural graduation ceremony and has a strong desire to give back and support the regional community.
What is your first memory?
Eating vegemite sandwiches at kindy – in a long-demolished wooden church hall in Townsville.
What was a recent highlight of your life?
Being a guest speaker at the inaugural CQUni Townsville graduation.
What is the best thing about being at CQUni?
The best thing I brought out of my time at CIAE was my friends – we lived together in the residential college, we worked together, we played together – and more than 30 years later we are still hanging out together when we get the chance.
Who has made an impact upon your life? Why?
Within the CQUni context, it is hard to pick between my many excellent lecturers – people like Graeme Griffin, Mike Mellick, Wally Woods, the Killions, and many others who opened my eyes to the love of learning. But Bill Fitzgerald and his wife Anita (Principal of Capricornia Residential College) is hard to go past. They really cared about we motley lot, challenged us to be the people we could be, and were always there with a friendly word or a shoulder if needed.
What do you like to do when you’re not at work?
I’m pretty omnivorous and enjoying most things although I’m not a team sports person. Anything that keeps me busy and entertained. I’m learning about renovating, but mainly learning that I should leave it to professionals.
If you could change one thing in the world, what would it be?
I’d like to think we could all be a bit more fair with each other – we are not actually entitled to very much beyond survival and I’d hope that everyone could be a little more tolerant and humble. In my own way, I like being involved in activities that directly help the community. Just today we opened a new 90-bed charitable nursing home to meet community needs, it’s taken the team three years of volunteer work but it was great to see it “in the flesh”. On a national stage, I work with Regional Development Australia to bring some equity to regional and outback Queensland.
Who is the most famous person you’ve ever met?
Politicians don’t count, but I waved at Queen Elizabeth when I was seven.
I graduated at CIAE 1984. Remember well the people David mentions…and a few others.