RELATIONSHIPS: Georgina and Charlie - united on the path to adulthood

The worlds of Georgina Ridley and Charlie Kemp collided in 2014 when they joined Trinity as freshers. Here, the couple reflect on how their relationship evolved amid the ‘quirky’ College environment.

Georgina’s story

Charlie was the first person I saw when I arrived at Trinity in 2014. As I drove through the Gate B entrance – alongside my father, sister and nervous tummy – there stood one Mr Charlie Kemp and Mr (now Dr) Cale Dobrosak, both members of the 2014 TCAC, dressed in academic gowns and friendly smiles. In a statement that has not aged well, my sister, taking one look at Charlie, remarked, ‘That boy looks like Grandpa!’, which was a bit freaky given my grandpa, Brian Roberts (TC 1945), lived at Trinity almost 70 years ago.

Kemp (as I refer to him) is a kind, compassionate, tolerant, sensitive but also very silly individual. Our relationship – as I’m sure all do – has changed over the years, but what’s most important has stayed the same.

Our initial dates were SWOTVAC coffee runs to Union House and 7-Eleven, hanging out in the Middle Common Room in Upper Bishops’ and brunch at the then very hip-and-happenin’ Code Black cafe off Sydney Road. Charlie would also drag me along to his All Stars games (seconds football) – him thinking I would be the Bec to his Chris Judd. I must say, I was disappointed in his performances but there was no doubting his passion for the game.

In retrospect, our quirky College experiences made for a lovely way to become acquainted. We have both grown so much and we got to be a part of each other’s transition into adulthood.

Charlie Kemp and Georgina Ridley

Charlie’s story

Though Georgina and I were at Trinity together for all of 2014, we only crossed paths in the latter half of 2015. It was when I sat next to her a couple of times at Formal Hall and casual College dinners that I got to know the popular Trinity personality, then known as ‘G-Rids’.

I began to understand why she was so well loved at College. Georgina has the great ability to make anyone feel listened to and she would always engage full-heartedly in conversations and provide wisdom that seemed beyond her years. We would talk about anything from College, to family, to politics and uni. These conversations were always easy, fun and full of laughter.

Georgina also has a great unshakeable strength about her. I remember one day in the Dining Hall, I asked Georgina, as secretary of the Wine Cellar, if I could do an IOU for an event she was running. I assumed she would say yes, considering we were besties. She quickly replied, ‘What? Absolutely not. No way. Pay now like everyone else.’ This principled approach to financial austerity has since kept me in good stead.

Similar to what Georgina has said, some things have changed in our relationship, probably due to having our once-relaxed Arts timetabling replaced by a 9–5 workday. But it feels like yesterday that G and I met for the first time at Trinity. We look back very fondly and laugh at our time there, while also cringing at our initial awkward encounters in Upper Bishops’. That’s the joy of young adulthood.