Apart from being snuggled in between a park and the Brisbane River, Gardens Point was always a welcoming campus. It made you feel excited and exciting. Energized and creative.
Bands at lunch time, great art shows, plays, visiting artists.
Straight-up and straight-laced people. Laid back, feral, odd people. There were heaps of cool people just cruising around.
Good music and beer, good conversation. It was a stimulating place that made you glad you were there.
Academics is what we were there for and most of the lecturers, teachers, tutors were okay to good, and occasionally exceptional.
We were in the ‘Film School’ though. After the first year most of our classes were either at the Peel Street ‘studio’ or wherever the camera needed to be. The academic staff in West End were decidedly the coolest, especially Wayne Michaels.
One night I arrived to shoot a short scene for a short film I had written and was attempting to direct.
Wayne said, “Joe… smoke too much.”
“No, sir,” I replied. “Just the right amount.”

Disclaimer: this review in no way endorses the consumption of cool people, creative or radical thinking, alcoholic or illegal substances