Eight years ago, Joan and Damjan met via a committee.
These were the days before internet dating and World of Warcraft really took off so perhaps it was a miracle that they were able to meet in the traditional way (in real life) in spite of the many suburbs between them.
Joan had lived her whole life in Melbourne’s Zone 2. Damjan still calls this area ‘the sticks’, although over time he has gained affection for Jells Park, Century City Walk and other semi-rural delights.
Anyway, Joan joined the dancesport club at Monash University and her first duty was to attend a joint committee meeting at Melbourne University so that the two dancesport clubs could organise a dinner dance together.
She was scared of venturing into the city but duty overcame fear. She called a friend for transport advice, received detailed instructions on what train carriage to sit in and which escalator to use, then left for the rail station.
It turned out the brave decision was the right decision in the end. At Melbourne University Union House, Joan and Damjan met, shared minutes, and exchanged email addresses over cake at a Lygon Street cafe.
Two months of administrative email and phone correspondence led to the inevitable. By the time dinner dance happened, they were an item.
You see folks? It pays to volunteer.
And one time, at dance camp... September 4, 2005
Dinner dance, September 22, 2006