As we walked up the drive of Government House towards a white house on the hill, it was if our Politics class had stepped backed into another century. We half-expected to hear the crunch of hooves on gravel as a breeze whispered past our ears, hinting at the bustle of carriages. Yet, upon reaching the front doors of Government House, we were nudged back into reality and we realised what an extraordinary experience we were about to embark on.

The formalities of a meeting with Her Excellency, the Honourable Linda Dessau AC were many, but the Governor immediately put us at ease. We were deeply fascinated by the insight she provided about her journey into Law and Politics and the features that are central to her role as the Governor of Victoria. We were incredibly grateful for her generosity in responding to our questions with depth and honesty and allowing us such a significant amount of time to speak with her. Later, a tour of her home, Government House, heightened our appreciation of her work and role, as well as each class member’s enchantment with and curiosity towards the history, architecture, artifacts and artwork of Government House.

Our discussion with the Governor was undeniably beneficial to our study of Australian and Global Politics. We posed a range of questions which moved our conversation from observations of the Governor’s time as a student at St Catherine’s School, and the continuing challenges that women face today, especially in the political and legal worlds. She described the stereotypes that existed in the past, especially coming from St Catherine’s, as well as how hard she worked to be accepted into her university course, her various professions as well as being the first female lawyer at her law firm.

We also had the opportunity to ask questions that were relevant to our current area of study, mainly, the topic of reserve powers. This included the various features that surround the role of both the Governor in Victoria, and the Governor-General at a national level. Although a complex topic to discuss, Her Excellency aided us in fully comprehending how these powers might be used should the need arise, but also the limitations on how much power The Governor possesses in reality.

Perhaps the most inspiring advice that we were left with is how to view our experiences and relationships with others. Her Excellency emphasised the fact that, in all areas of work and life, you must be very aware of the actions you take as they will have an impact on another person. Her positive impact on eight Year 11 students has been tremendous.