Honourable Quentin Bryce was sworn in as the twenty-fifth Governor General in September 2008 until March 2014, and this role amongst many various esteemed positions throughout her distinguished career, has lead her to assume the position of The YWCA’s Patron.

As part of my internship with Queensland News, I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to interview Quentin Bryce and Kate Tully, the CEO of The YWCA, for a story published in the Parallel Lives section of The Sunday Mail.

In the lead up to the interview, I immersed myself in researching these two women, their lives, their relationship and their recent work together on a mentoring program with The YWCA .

Admitting I was nervous to meet two of the most influential and high-achieving Australian women is quite an understatement, but with that came the unbearable excitement to conduct my first real interview on my own. Thrown into the deep end is a phrase that comes to mind!

After some miscommunication between myself, my editor and the public relations contact, I found myself rushing across Brisbane in a race against the clock for the interview I had spent days preparing. Being punctual is the ultimate first impression and I wasn’t about to let a little mishap cloud my vision and throw me off track.

Arriving just as the photographer was wrapping up, I regained my composure and the confidence that had tried to escape me and introduced myself. The short walk from Old Government House, where the ladies had been photographed, to Quentin Bryce’s stunning mid-century modern styled office provided the opportunity for a brief chat to settle my nerves before we got down to business.

The interview went better than planned and felt more like a forty-five minute chat that should’ve been accompanied by tea and biscuits – I couldn’t wipe the smile from my face. These extraordinary ladies are equally as media savvy as they are amazing conversationalists and their detailed answers made my job easy. I left the meeting feeling accomplished, inspired and in awe of these lovely ladies.

I thought it quite fitting that the focus of my very first published story was a mentoring program for young women whilst myself being somewhat mentored by some of Brisbane’s best Editors and Journalists while interning with Queensland News. Along with the guidance I am receiving from these accomplished writers I am then presented with an opportunity to be in a room with these two extraordinary women. I could say that my very first interview as a Newspaper Intern was possibly the best mentoring session I will ever receive and an experience that I will never forget.