Belinda McMartin

Class of 2006

First female CEO, Museum of Fire, Penrith

When I reflect on my time at St Patrick’s College the first word that comes to mind is “gratitude”.

I am very grateful that my parents chose to enrol me at St Pat’s. I know it wasn’t the easiest financial decision but I’m very proud that I have been able to ensure their investment in my education was worthwhile.

I will forever be indebted to the many teachers who made my time enjoyable and allowed me to explore, learn and grow in every possible way; especially Miss Musico, now Mrs Musico Rull, whose wisdom extended beyond the classroom and without whom I doubt I’d have pursued my current career – she gave me a gentle prod in the right direction during my early years at university. On reflection, my fondest memories all come from her history classes and they’ve had a lasting impact on my life.

St Pat’s built me up to believe I could do anything and I entered university believing this to be true. Unfortunately, the realities of the world quickly came down upon me and, even today, I see the inequalities in all facets of society for women. If it wasn’t for the, “girls can do and be anything” mentality that St Pat’s bestowed upon me, I don’t think I would have had the courage or fortitude to stand up when it counted.

Since graduating from St Pat’s, I completed an Honours degree in history/heritage and a Master of Museum Studies at the University of Sydney. I’m proud to say that I’ve been employed within my chosen field (Museum/History – a very competitive industry) every single day since my undergraduate studies and this is largely thanks to the hard-working spirit that St Pat’s instilled in me. Since mid-2020 I have been the first female CEO of the Museum of Fire and, since the pandemic years, the museum has recovered, grown and looks to a bright future.