Andrew, Flynn, Karen, Kathy, and Gary Baildon at Flynn's graduation ceremony.
Flynn Baildon, son of five-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist Andrew Baildon and grandson of former Gold Coast Mayor Gary Baildon, was awarded a Bachelor of Business (Entrepreneurship) at the university's June graduation ceremonies.
Andrew Baildon, who represented Australia at two Commonwealth Games and two Olympic Games, was a Bond foundation student, graduating with a Bachelor of Communication (Business).
“It is really cool to follow in dad’s footsteps,” Flynn said.
“He highly recommended Bond to me and I was sold. I really enjoyed my experience here. I’m so happy and just really stoked to be here with such a great cohort of people.”
Andrew admitted to becoming ‘teary’ while watching Flynn receive his degree.
“It is a very special day to see my son graduate,” Andrew said.
“It brings back a lot of very special memories from the ‘892 days’ (the University’s first cohort began their studies in semester two, 1989) when there were only a couple of hundred of us here.
“The fact that my son has also been able to experience this wonderful university makes this a special day for me.”
Andrew said his own father highlighted the importance of education to him when he was an athlete.
“Dad always said to me throughout my sporting career: if there’s one thing they can never take away from you, it’s your university degree.
“He was a driving force behind me coming to Bond University as the first sports scholarship holder. There was a big push from me to get my son here as well.”
Gary called the University a ‘hallmark of the community’ and praised Flynn for continuing the Baildons’ relationship with Bond.
“Absolutely delighted and of course very, very proud,” Gary said.
“It was just great to be here to see our grandson graduate. Of course we were here when Andrew graduated. In fact, I have honorary degree myself (from Griffith University) that that was awarded some years ago.”
Flynn is planning on applying the skills he learned at university to the family business Superfish Swim Schools which his parents founded in 1996. He recently called time on his competitive swimming career to focus on future endeavours.