One of CQUniversity’s newest academics, Colin Baskin, was comfortable and settled in his hometown of Cairns before taking a leap of faith and relocating to Townsville. Colin is a lecturer in Education (Early Childhood/Primary) who has a passion for music and is in the process of writing a fiction novel.
What is your favourite film or book of all time?
The Lord of the Rings – both the Peter Jackson film and Tolkien’s post-industrial classic. Since the age of 19, I have read the trilogy once a year, every year with Elgar’s Cello Concerto streaming in the background. I still manage to find something new in it. It is my Christmas ritual.
What was a recent highlight of your life?
Leaving Cairns after 17 years and coming to the new CQUni Townsville campus. Kafka once wrote that he had a terrible fear of dying because he had not yet lived. I want to be open to change, and don’t want to regret or be confined by a path not taken.
Have there been any awkward moments while you’ve been working at CQUni?
Getting lost on my first day on the job. Bruce Knight – my supervisor - told me that parking was a premium at the Townsville campus so I elected to cycle. Somewhere on the way, Google Maps conspired to take me on a loop around Townsville and some awkward traffic moments. I met some very nice people, and some less so.
What is the best thing about being at CQUni?
There is an exciting narrative forming here – a strong local flavour and a stoic self-belief. Purpose and meaning are essential to success and as a workplace culture, this speaks to me.
If you were down to your last $10, what would you buy?
I’d call a close friend and offer to buy us both a coffee and some time for a chat. A good time to remind myself that I am not in this alone.
If your office was burning down, what would be the one thing you grabbed on the way out the door?
My personal laptop computer; it hosts my iTunes mix and a draft of my novel - things too hard to put back together in quite the same way.
Who is the most famous person you’ve ever met?
George H Bush would be the most high profile. We share a unique history in that he founded the same Robotics competition in the oval office of the White House that I was fortunate enough to launch in Australia in 2006. We met to my surprise at the Georgia Dome surrounded by secret service men. On my trip to Georgia, I was pulled aside at each security check and never once grew suspicious. It all made sense when we met in Georgia. The conspiracist in me still believes that my email was probably being tapped for weeks before.
