You Too: Rowland & Crusader

Much loved members of Melbourne’s gay community Rowland and Crusader had  a unique wedding day. They chose to make their commitment to each other in a public ceremony as part of Midsumma along side lesbian couple Andi & Kim. Click here to read more about the idea behind the day as organised by The Dog Theatre as part of Midsumma 2011. idotoo.com.au was proud to throw all hands on deck to help make it happen. With the boys love and some awesomely generous local businesses, it was a match made in heaven!

Where are you from (town & state)?

We are from Fitzroy, Melbourne, but both grew up in the country.
What kind of couple would you say you are?
(chilled, eco, goth…)
We are an idiosyncratic couple (Rowland is early morning person, Crusader prefers late nights) – both very independent, very connected to one another, creative and constantly curious about the world (a quality we both share)

Since we already know a bit about your wedding, can you tell us more about you as a couple?
Rowland – most of my time is spent in the bookshop Hares & Hyenas, which me and Crusader opened nearly 20 years ago. The shop is also a cafe and performance space, so the days vary wildly depending upon what is happening in the shop. Hares & Hyenas is one of queer Melbourne’s institutions – it acts as a bookshop, cafe, community information centre, meeting place for lots of groups, performance space for readings, cabaret and theatre (and has its own sound system, stage and lighting).
The day starts three times a week with a personal trainer who comes to our house and does weight training, kickboxing training and cardio. This starts at 7am, but before that I go for a run with our 8-month smooth collie Winnie. The shop and cafe opens at 9am and most days of the week I’m there for most of the day, closing at 7pm or later. Sundays are a day off (most weeks). I read a lot of books, watch a lot of (pre-recorded) television, enjoy theatre and performance and physical activity. I loved running almost every day until I tore my achilles heel a couple of months ago.

Crusader – I work at the ALSO Foundation, where I’m the CEO. I’ve only been doing this job for one year and I inherited an organisation with lots of serious problems from the past. The best part of the day is working with very diverse people: government,  service providers, community groups, and lots of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender groups and individuals. ALSO has been running for 30 years but has suffered from poor administration in the past decade and more. It’s still an idea and an organisation worth fighting for. Days can be very long and can include a combination of working in the shop, in my full time job and organising events. My day starts with personal training as well, but unlike Rowland I’ve managed to miss more sessions than I’ve gone to in the last few months. But the training is an essential part of why I can manage to deal with the stresses that I’m currently going through. Rowland is an early morning person. I’m a late night person. Somehow we manage to meet in the middle enough to keep things going mostly smoothly. I too like television and don’t read as much as I should, but I’m starting to again.

Any DIY tips and pass on?
We are not DIY types! If they sell we buy it. We don’t make it.

Any Businesses that stood out to you and what made them
ace?
Studio Ingot and idotoo.
Generosity, professionalism, care and attention, flexibility.

Best moment of the day?
The speeches by the three best men (Narelle, bryan and Alex).
Hearing Patti Smith, Lou Reed, Dorothy Porter and Lady Gaga at a wedding all at our own request.

What did we splurge on?
Food and drink for friends afterwards.

Where did we save a penny?
Everywhere. All this was done by the Dog Theatre and you guys (idotoo). Amazing and priceless.

Difficulties or mishaps
Only that we only had a few days warning it was going to happen, and it was an incredibly busy time leading up to it and straight afterwards.

Is there anything else you’d like to share?
Everyone should get to have a celebration of their love, and preferably more than once in your life.