IWD breakfast 2019, with old scholar guest, Mercury journalist Jessica Sargent

Our annual International Women's Day breakfast is held on Tuesday 5 March 2019 and our special guest speaker is old scholar, Jessica Sargent (nee Howard, 2004).

Years 5-10 girls, their mothers, carers, grandmothers and aunties are invited to celebrate the achievements of women, past, present and future. Old scholars are also warmly invited.

Breakfast will begin at 7am and will conclude by 8.30am in the Savio Centre at Dominic College. Tickets are $15 and need to be booked at www.trybooking.com/BAAFF

Jessica enjoyed her time at Dominic from 2001 to 2004.

‘Looking back,’ smiled Jess, ‘it seemed like a very natural progression to have gone from Dominic College to the Mercury, even though I had no idea what I wanted to do, and be, when I left the school.’

At Dominic she won the Student of the Year award in Years 8 and 10, was class captain, member of the Senate, Vinnies secretary and in the school concert band. Jess went to GYC then studied journalism and history at the University of Tasmania. She gained her Bachelor of Arts in 2009 and Graduate Certificate in Journalism, Media and Communications from UTAS in 2010. Jess wrote for our Veritas magazine back in 2013:

'Sometimes, even now it still feels like I’m sitting in Siena 2 in Creative Writing class and Mrs Sue Whyte is the only one reading my story, not all of Tasmania. Of all the teachers I’ve had from primary school right through to university, Mrs Whyte was my favourite - and most influential. She always encouraged me to do the very best I could, something I still carry with me. I liked Mr Woolford, too, for his broad knowledge, cheeky humour and dedication to students.

'Thanks to the work of these teachers and many more I actually get paid to write now, which I still can’t believe sometimes. I did two weeks work experience at the Mercury in my final semester at UTAS in 2009. At first I was disappointed because I wanted to go to the ABC, but I couldn’t imagine being anywhere else now.

'I worked my way up the ladder to become a full time journalist in August 2012. I realise what a privileged position I’m in. I don’t know if newspapers will become extinct or if we will all get our news from the internet but I’m sure that the public will continue to want and need good storytellers. Hopefully that is something I can live up to – I’ve been honing my skills since Mrs Whyte and my beautiful four years at Dominic College.'

Since 2013 Jess has worked for the Mercury in urban affairs, property, health and covered the courts. She has also lost her Dad, married, had a baby and taken 12 months maternity leave. She will be returning to work next month, hopefully back covering the courts!

Book your International Women's Day breakfast tickets now: Book IWD here.

You can download an event invitation here: IWD Invitation.