Feeling ‘elated’: Toowoomba graduate gets special surprise
The day you graduate is always a special and monumental occasion but for one local the ceremony was better than expected.
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Graduations are monumental occasions for most students after years of commitment to their studies but for one Toowoomba local it will be unforgettable for another very special reason.
Grace Scanlon recently graduated from Bond University with a Bachelor of International Relations and law degree.
And while that is certainly something to celebrate – it was just the cherry on top for the 22-year-old graduate.
Ms Scanlon was separated from her Hong Kong-based father Simon Scanlon for 10 long months due to the international border closures with fears he may not be able to attend the ceremony.
Fortunately luck was on the family’s side.
“I wasn’t sure he was actually coming until he was literally on the plane … I feel completely elated with happiness and joy,” Ms Scanlon said.
“He’s been my number one supporter, alongside my mother throughout my entire university degree so to have him here has been incredible.”
The Toowoomba local said reuniting with her dad on her big day was the missing piece of the puzzle.
“As a family who’s quite close-knit, to have all of us back in the same country let alone the same state is something that really consumes you,” Ms Scanlon said.
“I did shed a couple of tears – but they were really tears of happiness and joy in the fact our family is complete again.”
Mr Scanlon who works as a flight technical officer for Cathay Pacific Airways has not been able to return to Australia for just shy of a year.
“It’s been touch and go for a while as to whether I could get down – I’ve been tied up due to Covid-19 restrictions and not knowing whether I could quarantine going back to Hong Kong,” Mr Scanlon said.
“I wouldn’t have missed it for the world … the couple of weeks I’ve been home as well and truly worth it.”
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