When QUT journalism graduate Kirilly Mahon returns home to the Darling Downs for her 21st birthday this month, she’ll be celebrating with people who get to listen in on her new job every day.
Kirilly is one of thousands of QUT students graduating in December and has already landed her first radio job as a journalist and newsreader with Southern Cross Austereo (SCA) – the broadcaster that operates the HIT and Triple M networks.
She grew up in the small Queensland town of Pittsworth, in the Darling Downs, and moved to Brisbane to study her Bachelor of Communication (Journalism) with the QUT School of Communication – the number one school of its type in Australia and in the world’s top 20.
Based in SCA’s Brisbane office, Kirilly is now the reporter covering the Darling Downs and Wide Bay areas for Hit and Triple M, and also reads their regional news bulletins.
She landed the job before even finishing uni, thanks to a successful internship with the radio network as part of her degree.
“I do the Darling Downs and the Wide Bay region – it’s quite a big patch and it’s one I wanted to cover because I grew up there,” she said.
“I went home a couple of weeks ago and I had so many people comment. I went to a party and people were saying ‘I've heard you on the radio’, ‘I hear you at work’, ‘we went to school with her’ … So it’s very cool.
“I don’t get to hear myself on air so sometimes I forget that thousands of people hear me.”
Kirilly works a rotating shift where she spends two weeks getting up early to read the morning news, then two weeks doing more regular hours as a reporter.
It means she doesn’t have the body clock of most 20-year-olds.
“On the weeks I read the news I wake up at 3.20am and get to work for 4am, and I’m on air from 6am to 12noon – so I aim to be in bed by 7.30pm or 8pm,” she said.
Kirilly was offered her job after completing a 10-week journalism internship with SCA as part of her degree.
She was already on staff in a different capacity, having worked as a promotions assistant on their roving ‘street team’ for a year.
“When I joined as a street teamer, I remember sitting in my first interview and thinking this is a stepping stone – I really want to be a journalist, I want to be on the radio,” she said.
“The internship was another rung on that ladder. I’m proud that I was able to make those connections and put myself out there enough to make a good impression with my now employer.”
Although she now loves her career path, it wasn’t something she’d locked in back in high school.
She originally wanted to be an actor and did years of private speech and drama tuition that ended up benefiting her in a different way as a newsreader.
“I was very confused at school and didn’t originally want to study at uni – it was a bit of a spontaneous choice to do journalism,” she said.
“I chose it because it combined so many different elements – writing, radio, tv, having to actually interview people. There were so many different dynamics that I knew I’d be thrown into.
“Looking back now, I know that it was the right choice.”
Kirilly said one of her favourite parts of her degree was a newsroom unit with journalism lecturer Jason Sternberg where students got to produce stories using the campus TV studio and radio booths.
“I think that was probably the highlight of my course, just getting to actually have those real-world experiences,” she said.
“QUT is so good at getting you ready to go out and actually get a job … I had all those portfolio items ready to show people.”
Kirilly said moving to a new city to go to uni had been challenging at times, but she had quickly made friends through her course and by playing social netball through QUT Sport.
“It is hard at first, but I don’t think at any point you'll look back and regret that you moved,” she said.
She said high school students from small communities weren’t always encouraged to go to university and aim big, but she firmly believed people should chase their dreams, no matter where they grew up.
“I would say don’t put yourself in a box, there are opportunities, make your own if there aren’t any and don’t let people limit what you think you can do,” she said.
“I had times where I was told that I wouldn’t get to do the things I was aiming for … but it’s just a matter of staying dedicated.
“I don’t see coming from a rural area as a limitation, I see it as a privilege.
“In rural communities, we're so supported by those around us and we're so cared for and loved.
“I’ve had the backing of so many people in everything I do. Every time I’m on the radio, there's someone texting my mum saying I just heard Kirilly, I’m so proud of her.
“So I think that's our strength.”
QUT Media contacts:
- Mechelle McMahon, media@qut.edu.au
- After hours, 0407 585 901 or media@qut.edu.au
