Cromwell College Love Stories

Valentine's Day 2022

LOVE Stories Mark and Leanne Kenway

VALENTINE'S DAY 2022

CROMWELL COLLEGE

LOVE Stories

Their 1994 wedding.

The happy couple recently.

Leanne Fair and Mark Kenway

With Leanne

My first memory of Mark was during the Bus Rally in O-Week, 1990. I was on the Executive (Secretary) and Mark was a Fresher – in the middle of Toowong Shopping Centre he is down on bended knee singing, ‘You’ve lost that loving feeling’ out loud. He had hoped to earn bonus points, but I think I was so embarrassed we ended up penalising his team instead!

We were great friends during the 2 years we were at Cromwell together (1990-1991), while we were dating other people. As a physio student, Mark did attend my anatomy tutorials without fail (or pen or paper come to think of it). It was years later before I found out why (clearly oblivious)!

Once I moved out of Cromwell, I realised Mark was who I missed most.

We’ve been inseparable ever since.

WHEN DID YOU KNOW MARK WAS THE ONE FOR YOU? That’s easy - the Great Court Toga Party 1992. I’d left college, and that’s when I knew… Mark may have been preoccupied and did take some convincing after 2 years of ‘trying’!

WHY DO YOU THINK SO MANY LOVE STORIES BLOSSOM AT CROMWELL? The Crommie Community draws, and is made up of, the loveliest people.

Being able to spend quality, intense periods of time, in such close proximity with each other, away from home for the first time, at such a formative period of your life forms intense bonds. Like-minded souls living in the Crommie bubble!

DO YOU HAVE CROMWELL MATES YOU STAY CONNECTED WITH? Yes, of course! Many of our closest, dearest friends are our Crommie mates!

Mark’s best mate is Ben Wilkinson – their friendship dates back to Crommie days when they were studying physio together. Ben was MC at our wedding, and Mark was his groomsman. We’ve been a part of each other’s lives since.

We regularly spend time with our beautiful friends Paul and Krysten (Lambert) Davis, testing out a new gin or a tasty red! We also catch up with Darren and Amanda Lewis when they pass through the Gold Coast.

Leanne and Mark with their daughter Lily at Cromwell Open House 2019.

1992 Cromwell Ball - Mark and Leanne

HOW DEEPLY DO YOU VALUE YOUR CROMWELL FRIENDS AND THE COLLEGE EXPERIENCE YOU SHARED? Crommie friends are best! We often talk at home about those wonderful days, the crazy things we did, and how deep those friendships are that we formed back then. Not only were our friendships important, but after Mark and I had such great experiences at Cromwell, both of our siblings, Michelle (Fair) and Ben Kenway became Cromwellians. Ben went on to also marry another Cromwellian, Kerylea Lester.

When it was time for our daughter, Lily, to move to Brisbane to start at QUT, we didn’t insist she choose Cromwell, we encouraged her to make her own choice. She chose Crommie based on the strong lifelong friendships she knew we had developed during our time there, and the wonderful stories we had recounted. We were elated, of course!

ARE YOU MORE IN LOVE TODAY AND WHAT MAKES IT WORK? We sure are! We may be a little more grey, and slower to move these days… but I think our ‘recipe’ has always been to have fun, keep a sense of humor and adventure, as well as a love for each other and appreciation of similar interests! Taking the time to listen to each other, to appreciate different perspectives, and sometimes, a lot of patience!

The Crommie Community draws the loveliest people. Being able to spend quality, intense periods of time, in such close proximity with each other, away from home for the first time, at such a formative period of your life forms intense bonds. Like-minded souls living in the Crommie bubble!"

Leanne and Mark at the Wilkinson's engagement party in 2001.

The Kenways and Wilkinsons in 2020 at Leanne's 5oth birthday.

Morgan and Glen eloped in 2021

Morgan Freeney and Glen Thorpe

With Morgan

I attended college from 2014-2016, while my husband Glen was 2 years ahead of me and there from 20122017 (firstly as a student and then as student advisor). It wasn’t love at first sight for me. We were good friends for the first few months and I’m embarrassed to say I was a bit of a stain, even being crowned ‘win-on’ queen in my first year.

others, myself included. I would always sneak away in the middle of the night just to stay up with him and talk about anything and everything.

Glen was persistent though and would bring me over snacks and sweets from the Ville every night.

Essentially, he Pavlov’d me into looking forward to seeing him. There wasn’t any particular moment I knew Glen was the one. Glen was so diligent in his RA role and gave up many potential nights out to help

Glen would often hang out in our RAs room, and I would make excuses to pop by and chat/gossip, scroll through Crommie boys & girls or watch silly YouTube videos. So, there was really no pressure for anything to happen and I think when relationships can evolve organically that’s what makes for a lasting romance.

I think Cromwell provides an environment conducive to love and relationships as you get to meet and spend time with others you normally wouldn’t have a chance to.

I wasn’t looking for love when I attended college, being so young and inexperienced on the dating scene, but I honestly think it was one of the best things to ever happen to me.

I wasn’t looking for love when I attended college, being so young and in-experienced on the dating scene, but I honestly think it was one of the best things to ever happen to me."

Morgan and Glen during their Crommie days.

Dating outside of college (when you leave) is not an easy thing, or so I have been told, so make an effort to meet lots of people while you can at Crommie, you never know what could happen!

Treasured Memories

The great thing about having met my partner at college is that our close friends know exactly how our relationship unfolded and so there is no lack of stories to bring up and reminisce over. We treasure those memories together and they also make for the best anecdotes to embarrass each other in wedding speeches.

We eloped together last year but are planning our wedding celebration in June, so we are looking forward to catching up with some of our friends who now reside internationally.

The great thing about having met my partner at college, is that our close friends know exactly how our relationship unfolded and so there is no lack of stories to bring up and reminisce over. We treasure those memories together and they also make for the best anecdotes to embarrass each other in wedding speeches."