Hannah Brodribb

"I had strong teachers and mentors who showed me the way at Yarra"

Since she graduated from Yarra, Hannah Brodribb hasn’t wasted any time. She’s completed a diploma in Musical Theatre while also juggling a Law degree at Deakin University, a degree in Criminology at Monash University and following her love of travel – managing to visit 16 places both interstate and overseas in just the past year and a half alone.

In the spare time she has available, Hannah has started her own small business and organises entertainment for children’s parties. On top of all of that, she is also a Manager and State Party Coordinator for Victoria at Zone Bowling and Time Zone in Clayton.

“I don’t feel like I’m working because I love my job as a legal assistant in the city and I love being part of an industry that is about helping people. I enjoy running my business, too. At the weekend I was a fairy at a four year old girl’s birthday party and enjoyed making her day special,” says Hannah.

While Hannah currently works in Melbourne as a legal assistant, she was originally based out of a regional office in Bairnsdale. This required four hours travel each way, every week for nine months, but she says it was worth the dedication to get her foot in the door of the legal industry.

Hannah joined Yarra in Prep and has strong memories of her years spanning the school. From lunchtimes spent reading and playing in the sand pit with friends to her first Year 2 ‘camp’ – a sleepover at the school, Yarra left a lasting impression.

“I remember the first day of Year 7 and standing outside the Year 7 building with people from different primary schools and my friends from Yarra. By the end of that day, I’d made friends with people I’d never met before,” says Hannah.

In Senior School, Hannah’s passion for the law emerged through Legal Studies. She also enjoyed Business and explored her creative side through musical theatre.

“During Year 7 the school show was Thoroughly Modern Millie and I was a helper. I remember standing at the side of the stage and the lights came on, the curtains opened and the girl playing Millie was centre stage. I was mesmerised.”

Hannah later featured in productions including Godspell and Seussical, based on the stories of Dr Seuss.

She still takes part in musical theatre when she can fit it around her studies and her work as a legal assistant in the family, youth and children’s law area.

“In the next year my goal is to be admitted to practice, to continue to pursue musical theatre and to build my business,” she says.

“A huge lesson that I took away from Yarra was to give everything a go – that was ingrained in us. If you fail, you just try again but try and do everything possible to get to where you want to be in life and to help people.

“Take different opportunities, look at all the possibilities on offer and live up to the potential you have.”