Inspiring Loreto alumni recognised

THREE former Loreto College Ballarat students have been inducted as this year’s Women in Time – Inspiring Alumni to celebrate International Women’s Day.

Mary Delahunty was inducted for her community service leadership and academic excellence in the fields of journalism and politics.

Ms Delahunty hosted ABC news and current affairs programs The 7.30 Report and Four Corners.

She has received a Gold Walkley Award, the most prestigious award in Australian journalism.

Ms Delahunty encouraged women to be confident in speaking up and negotiating to advance their careers.

“You only get what you negotiate,” she said. “A lot of women think ‘I’ve done the work, I’ve given it a lot of good consideration, I should get that promotion’.

“I’ve learnt over the journey, everyone’s talented, everyone can be ambitious, whatever you need, whatever advancement, you only get what you negotiate.”

Marea Breisch received the arts and cultural excellence and verity award in recognition of her artistic achievements and courage to overcome adversity. Ms Breisch was an art teacher but following an accident in 1995, she required life-saving surgery which removed the left temporal lobe of her brain, the language centre.

She survived the surgery and was left with an acquired brain injury, but Ms Breisch learnt how to walk and talk again and began to again pursue painting.

“I think it was because of my dad really,” Ms Breisch said.

“He was going to die, and they told me I was a vegetable, but dad said no. He said ‘it will take you a long time to get better, but you will get better’.”

Ms Breisch has been part of several exhibitions and has sold many of her works.

Anna Pipkorn was recognised as a young achiever and entrepreneur in the fashion and textile industry. Ms Pipkorn is the founder of Lovaan, a womenswear brand named after her grandmothers that focuses on high-quality, sustainable and timeless pieces.

Lovaan recently won the Melbourne Fashion Festival’s people’s choice award, and is in department stores globally.