The Last Word - A Farewell from The Mary Word’s Editors-in-Chiefs

Rosemary O’Brien

Reflecting back on my experience of high school, there is a clear link between my own journey and my involvement with The Mary Word. I joined The Mary Word in Year 9 with a few friends, and we began making videos and articles together. Our first one was an embarrassing attempt at a Valentine’s day article, which ended up never seeing the light of publishing - this was probably a blessing in disguise. I remember feeling so out of depth, surrounded by the older girls who seemed so much smarter and better at writing than me. Now being one of those girls, though, I find myself in awe of the creativity and skill of the younger girls in this newspaper, who turn up every week and churn out insightful, industry-level work, some of which have truly changed my perspectives on the world. 

Most of the work I’ve done in The Mary Word has been in collaboration with my peers, including our beloved teacher music quiz series and other works, including our one-episode podcast series ‘Bet You Didn’t Know That’, which constituted hours and hours of audio editing, and ended up being one of our least-viewed articles. However, that experience taught me something valuable - no matter how much work, time, and cap-cut editing you might put into something, it won’t always work out the way you want it to. However, this never means that you can’t try again. Reluctantly, I continued to make videos and articles, and slowly became more confident in my own abilities as a writer - encouraging me to apply to become an editor, and later, EIC.  

I remember when I got the email from Mr Scali confirming that I got the EIC role, my friends surrounded me in excitement, and I just felt in absolute disbelief - I was shocked that the outgoing leaders of TMW felt confident that they could trust us to lead the newspaper into its most important year, its 10-year anniversary. But that is simply the beauty of this community - the legacy we have as an independent and entirely student-led body of journalism and creativity is truly so valuable, and something we should never take for granted. Having this opportunity has shaped my life in no small manner - it has seen me find my true calling in journalism, which I intend to pursue as a career. Education, empowerment, and voice are integral to the upholding of a just society, and that starts in places like this. I implore all future members of The Mary Word - put yourself out there. No matter how small you think your contribution, no matter how irrelevant you feel your voice, I promise, you are making a difference - even huge oak trees have to grow from the tiniest seed. 

I feel so blessed to have had the chance to share my Mary Word experience with some truly special people. Elisa, my best friend and fellow EIC, who I know has always had my back and the back of everyone in the paper - her steady support, organisation, and practicality has made her the rock that I know everyone, including myself, is so grateful to have in this team. Rose, the since-year-six member whose passion for this paper shines through in all her actions - I am truly in awe of her breadth of knowledge and skills in managing this paper, and how she somehow makes time for every single girl in our community. Mr Scali, Ainsley, and the editors, who all play the most crucial roles in making sure the paper functions at the quality it does, and who without, we wouldn’t even have a paper to run. Finally, to the girls of The Mary Word - our journalists, artists, activists, and future filmmakers. I am blown away every week by the sheer talent that walks itself into TMW every Wednesday lunchtime. I have no doubt that this paper will continue for another 10, 20, 50 years, so long as the truly gifted girls of Loreto continue putting their skills into it - never stop creating! 

Sometimes, blessings come into our lives that we do not immediately recognise. My Year 9 self would have never believed the profound impact that joining The Mary Word would have on my life. So, as I hand over my position, I encourage every girl reading this to never turn down a chance at doing something you love - you never know where the journey might carry you. 

Rose Cunningham

When I walked into GBC 2.11 for the first time in year 6, I had no clue that I was stepping into something that would become a core part of the next seven years of my life. At 11, I thought I was far too young, too ambitious, perhaps slightly irritating in my persistence. But if I’ve learnt anything, it’s that ambition, paired with curiosity, is less a flaw than a seed — one that grew into years of writing, editing, failing, trying again, and finally leading this paper in both of our milestone years - my Year 12, and its 10 Year Anniversary.

From those earliest days, I remember plotting a future; I wanted, more than anything, to become Editor-in-Chief someday. The dream hung about, as do the things which really mean something. By the end of Year 8, I became an Editor, working on my style and starting to learn more about how the paper runs behind the scenes. Then last year, I received an email that I’d been hoping to receive for years - it effectively said “Go for it”, and just like that, I’d achieved one of my longest-held goals - and a dream became reality. 

I still remember how strange it was to be in Year 7 and have Year 12s seriously accept my name suggestions and story pitches. TMW never made me feel too big for my shoes. Instead, it handed them to me a size too large and told me to walk anyway. It invited us to write pieces longer, stranger, more ambitious than schoolwork ever allowed — and to do it for fun. Have I had a free Wednesday lunch since 2019? Nope. Would I change that? Not for the world. Hours spent in classrooms, the Curran theatre, and now in the MWW, have been a gift. Somewhere between Taylor Swift and swapping draftwork with each other, the paper has truly melded into a living, breathing engine within which each member is a cog. 

Some of my fondest memories are of the people who shaped those moments. I think of the past teams I admired from the sidelines for years — their care, wit, and dedication set the bar I quietly aspired to reach. I think of the mentors who guided me patiently through my earliest articles, whose encouragement made me brave enough to pitch audacious pieces and whose advice shaped my approach to longform writing. And I think of the friends I laughed with, stayed up late editing with, even co-wrote an article on the ‘Fall of the American Empire’ with. TMW was never just about deadlines or bylines; it was, and is, a community, a network, and a home.

Then, there was the moment that I don’t think I’ll ever beat. My interview with my idol: Annabelle Crabb. I emailed her on a whim one lunch in 2023 - not expecting a response, and having not yet thought to prepare questions. Imagine my shock when the next morning, I get an email back saying, “I’m free at 5”. That recess, I met Ms O’Dwyer - we abandoned the speech I was working on temporarily in favour of planning lines of questions I could ask and working out how to stay calm (I was not very ‘cool’ about it). Ms Badgery-Parker let me develop those questions in her class that day, and showed me how to follow the conversation and take Annabell’s lead. Zoom didn’t work, but we got the interview going, and it is an absolute highlight of my time in the team. That article is my favourite piece I’ve ever written here, and I can easily say that the interview, perhaps more than anything else I’ve ever done, has shown me the true value of “not throwing away my shot”, a phrase I returned to whenever I doubted if I should try something. 

I loved writing my two ‘Pope(co)nomics’ pieces — including ‘’Till it’s Done,’ about the Matildas’ economic impact, and one on streaming services reshaping the music industry. Another highlight was ‘Banned Books — A Mistake Being Made Again,’ which let me deep dive into the history and consequences of censorship. Honestly, there are too many articles to try and consider every one.

I’ve been so lucky to have a wonderful team by my side in the last year. Rosemary, a true genius when it comes to videos and podcasts - I don’t have a clue how she does it, but she gets it done every time. She’s always on top of everything, and her enthusiasm at meetings and instant problem-solving skills make her such a steady and reliable presence. Elisa, the fantastic website builder, is calm, kind and always ready to do whatever it takes to get things done. These two girls have been such amazing anchors throughout the year. Ainsley, our Design Editor, whips up spectacular sketches in the blink of an eye, and always makes something fantastic. We also had a fantastic team of editors working with us, who have helped make the whole process of collecting, editing and putting together The Mary Word as smooth as it could be, and Mr Scali, who has kept the paper going the entire 7 years I’ve been in it.

So, here’s to the next ten years. To the writers who will stumble into these pages, to the editors who will shape them, and to the shared inspiration. Make it yours. Push past fear, write the piece that scares you, send the email you think will be ignored, wrestle with your curiosity, and follow it to strange, wonderful places. It will give you more than you ever expect, if only you let it. And above all, remember what I have learned here: never throw away your shot. As Margaret Atwood once said, ‘A word after a word after a word is power” - and it all begins with a single story written on a Wednesday lunchtime.

Elisa Jeong

Looking back on my time at Normo, I think about the profound impact The Mary Word has had on my life. I remember my dad encouraging me, sometimes relentlessly, through years 7–9 to join, convinced it would nurture skills and confidence I admittedly lacked at the time. Curiosity pushed me to sign up at the end of year 9 with my good friend, Ava Martin, and together we produced our first video, “Teacher’s Favourite Christmas Tradition and Song!” After its release, I felt a real sense of accomplishment that something I created was recognised across the school. This was only the beginning of a journey that would see me gain confidence, hone my writing and communication skills and find a sense of belonging in a community that values creativity and collaboration.

Throughout years 10/11, I was lucky enough to hold the position as one of the Editors of The Mary Word. This experience challenged and shaped me in ways I had never anticipated: I was entrusted with overseeing articles, guiding the team and helping shape the direction of each edition. Managing deadlines, making editorial decisions and collaborating with writers taught me key skills of leadership, communication and critical thinking. Being trusted to review and refine peers’ work gave me insight into the importance of accuracy, fairness and working together to create something meaningful for our wider school community, as well as giving me a real sense of pride in both the publication and my personal growth.

I later ended up applying for the Editor in Chief position. I remember nervously walking into the interview, struggling to fully express just how much I wanted to lead a publication I cared so deeply about. Despite my nerves, my genuine passion for The Mary Word and my desire to help shape its direction as Editor in Chief drove me forward, reminding me of how far I had come since those early days as a contributor. I recall the overwhelming joy, relief, and excitement I felt when I received the confirmation email, so grateful to have been entrusted with this incredible opportunity to lead and continue my journey with The Mary Word.

I could not be more grateful for the boundless opportunities of growth and involvement that this extra-curricular has offered me. It has led me to significant growth in my confidence, skills, leadership abilities and qualities which will definitely benefit me far beyond my school years. I could not be more thankful for having the opportunity to work alongside Rosemary and Rose. Their unwavering support, insights and collaborative spirit made every challenge manageable and every success even better. Together, we fostered a positive and creative environment where ideas flowed freely and each team member felt valued and heard. Ainsley, our very talented Design Editor. I don’t know where we would have been without your eye for detail and creativity. Your ability to shape the visual identity of The Mary Word ensured every edition was not only polished but engaging and visually consistent. Thank you for your dedication and the warmth you brought to our team - your contributions have been invaluable. And of course, to Mr Scali, whose guidance, encouragement and mentorship have been the cornerstone of my journey with The Mary Word. His commitment to nurturing our talents, offering thoughtful advice and fostering a supportive environment allowed the newspaper to flourish while empowering each of us to grow personally and creatively. Without his steady presence and belief in us, none of this would have been possible.

This experience has truly been such a big blessing. My shy and nervous year 7 self would not have even guessed that I would be leading one of the most special extra-curriculars at this school. I will truly miss walking into such a welcoming space during Wednesday lunch and leading the team with pride, but knowing that I will be handing over this position to students capable and dedicated gives me confidence that the community will continue to thrive.