Guest speakers Melissa McGauran, Ali Muller, Shannon Bird and Hannah Edgley on stage waiting to speak to FCJ College students at its annual IWD breakfast.
Photo by
Simon Ruppert
The FCJ College community was up early on Friday, March 7 to share breakfast and be inspired.
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Four former students returned to speak at the school’s annual International Women’s Day breakfast, with students and their families filling the school’s Marie Madeleine Hall.
Melissa McGauran, Ali Muller, Hannah Edgley and Shannon Bird all said they were excited about being invited to speak, with all noting the importance of the event, which was not running when they were at FCJ.
Ms McGauran said she hoped she could inspire some of the students in attendance to follow their dreams.
“It's important to show people all the different professions that they can actually go into and the importance of following their heart,” she said.
“And to go with what they enjoy, rather than what people are telling them to do.
“I think that it's lovely that we've got a panel with such diversity so that we can show that there are so many careers available.
“I think living in a smaller country town, you don't necessarily see all the options that are available to you because they're not all local.
“So I think it's also nice to see that there are different options that can be achieved.”
FCJ College's Marie Madeleine Hall was full on Friday morning, March 7 as students were inspired by four guest speakers at the school's IWD breakfast.
Photo by
Simon Ruppert
Ms Muller said she was planning to talk about her journey over the past decade since graduating from FCJ College.
“I'm now an agribusiness banker. Lending money to farmers is essentially what I do,” she said.
“But also taking away that stigma around being a farmer. I was lucky enough to purchase my own farm earlier this year.
“So now I can actually call myself a farmer, which is something I’m really proud of.”
FCJ College marked International Women's Day 2025 by inviting four former students to speak at its annual IWD breakfast.
Photo by
Simon Ruppert
Hannah Edgley only graduated in 2019, and has since forged a career in a traditionally male dominated field, being a professional jockey.
“It never crossed my mind when I graduated, that I might be back here one day speaking about my career,” she said.
“When I was going through school, we sometimes had former students come and talk, but nothing like what is going on today.
“As guest speakers, it gives us an opportunity to talk about getting into our careers, as females, and the challenges we faced.”
Since graduating from FCJ College, Shannon Bird has built a career as an occupational therapist.
“I’ve been doing that for about 16 years now,” she said.
“I wanted to come and talk today, as it’s hugely important to inspire these young women.
“Having professional career women, from a whole range of fields, talk today is incredibly important.
“And I think knowing that it’s okay to not have it all figured out when you graduate is normal.
“But having a really clear direction you want to take, at the start of your career is important.
“And I think it’s really lovely to have a breakfast like this to hear that message, and to help these girls decide what they will want to do after finishing school.”
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