Friendships, marriages and business partnerships continue to be forged at Monash
Back in the early 2000s, the Monash students had come to know each other through their work in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
Having completed a Bachelor of Arts and her honours year in science, Michelle was a PhD candidate in the department, under the supervision of Steve Bottomley.
Michael, who had completed his honours in computer science under Maria Garcia de la Banda, was working as a research associate on a bioinformatics collaboration with James Whisstock, also in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
Show moreWith supervisors who were friends and collaborators, and offices and labs near each other, Michael and Michelle were bound to cross paths.
A get-together with colleagues in The Den broke the ice, while a shared conference held in Sydney cemented the friendship. And then Michael decided to invite Michelle on a date – indoor rock climbing – when they were back in Melbourne.
Not an avid rock-climber, Michelle declined, saying she had “lab work” to do, but decided to ask Michael out for a coffee one evening.
Racing out of a choir rehearsal (where she tutored for the Australian Girls Choir), Michelle met Michael and, although it soon transpired that neither actually drank coffee, they began dating.
After marrying in 2006, they moved to the US, where Michael joined Microsoft, and Michelle worked at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. They moved back to Melbourne in 2009, where their two children were born, as was Rome2Rio.
The Monash bond runs deep for Michael and Michelle. His father, Max Cameron, is an emeritus professor at the Monash University Accident Research Centre, and his brother, Jamie Cameron, also completed a Bachelor of Computer Science (Honours) at Monash.
Michelle’s brother, Ernest Chow, and sister, Elaine Chow, also completed undergraduate degrees and PhDs in science. Ernest is a Monash Fellow (2016) who also completed a Bachelor of Laws (Honours).
Show lessWorking part-time in technical support at his former high school, the Monash mechanical engineering/physics student had streamlined the digital directory, found and reinstated all the computer mouse balls stolen by students, and stopped them from being able to change desktop backgrounds to rude pictures. But he was powerless against the piles of uncollected print jobs that gathered every day beside the photocopier in the library.
Show moreWith supervisors who were friends and collaborators, and offices and labs near each other, Michael and Michelle were bound to cross paths.
A get-together with colleagues in The Den broke the ice, while a shared conference held in Sydney cemented the friendship. And then Michael decided to invite Michelle on a date – indoor rock climbing – when they were back in Melbourne.
Not an avid rock-climber, Michelle declined, saying she had “lab work” to do, but decided to ask Michael out for a coffee one evening.
Racing out of a choir rehearsal (where she tutored for the Australian Girls Choir), Michelle met Michael and, although it soon transpired that neither actually drank coffee, they began dating.
After marrying in 2006, they moved to the US, where Michael joined Microsoft, and Michelle worked at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. They moved back to Melbourne in 2009, where their two children were born, as was Rome2Rio.
The Monash bond runs deep for Michael and Michelle. His father, Max Cameron, is an emeritus professor at the Monash University Accident Research Centre, and his brother, Jamie Cameron, also completed a Bachelor of Computer Science (Honours) at Monash.
Michelle’s brother, Ernest Chow, and sister, Elaine Chow, also completed undergraduate degrees and PhDs in science. Ernest is a Monash Fellow (2016) who also completed a Bachelor of Laws (Honours).
Show lessAs the months passed, their study and sports sessions turned into a friendship, and then more. And their relationship had plenty of time to flourish – not only on campus. They both lived in the CBD – Amy at a student hostel, and Gary at a homestay, before moving out together in their final year – and they spent many hours commuting together by tram, train and bus to the Clayton campus. “We talked a lot,” Gary says.
Show moreAs the months passed, their study and sports sessions turned into a friendship, and then more. And their relationship had plenty of time to flourish – not only on campus. They both lived in the CBD – Amy at a student hostel, and Gary at a homestay, before moving out together in their final year – and they spent many hours commuting together by tram, train and bus to the Clayton campus. “We talked a lot,” Gary says.
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