By Lili BANNERMAN
A 17-year-old, 2024 Highschool Graduate with no work experience. Who would have thought I would end up in a place like this!
From the moment I sat down with Andrea for my interview, I could envision myself playing a part in Storyfest 2025; I knew immediately that this was the place for me.
On my first day in the office, it became very clear that I was, by far, the youngest. I refused to let my age hold me back, and I’m so grateful I didn’t. When I was told I would be the Regional Events Assistant, I lit up. It isn’t every day that your job allows you to travel to three regional towns across Queensland and host a writers’ festival for regional kids.
During my time at Storyfest, I helped build the ticketing for our corner-stone event, Storyfest Gold Coast and the 2025 Regional Tour in St George, Longreach and Emerald. As an events assistant, I also took on the responsibility of daily banking — a crucial, though tedious, daily task — along with a range of administrative and event-based efforts.
I also developed numerous new skills throughout the year, working with graphics in InDesign and Photoshop, writing EDMs and expanding my knowledge in Excel.
As the year went by, I was trusted with more responsibilities, to which I often felt a sense of achievement, although there were times it felt intimidating. You gain strength, courage and confidence through every experience where you confront fear: “You’re too good” or “Thank you Lil”, were the small boosts of encouragement on our Teams chats that helped me overcome such challenges.
If you asked me for a single highlight of the year, I couldn’t choose one. From spending my 18th birthday at the Long Table Dinner on the closing night of the Gold Coast Festival, to watching people get dunked with icy water on Annual Giving Day, to travelling throughout regional Queensland — this entire year has been unforgettable.
Every person I have had the pleasure of working with or alongside this year has given me insight that many 18-year-olds never get the opportunity to experience. I have been incredibly fortunate to work within a team that operates so cohesively and with such genuine connection. Each event presented its own obstacles, yet no matter the challenge, this team always found a way to turn things around.
The experiences I have gained this year would not have been possible if not for Storyfest’s CEO, Andrea Lewis.
Andrea, you are a powerhouse of a person; I am so very lucky to have had the opportunity to learn from you over the past year. Thank you for believing in me even if I didn’t believe in myself, and for guiding me, even when you were thousands of kilometres away. Your support and trust have shaped the skills and mindset I now carry forward.
To my team - Gabbi, Teraze, Narelle and Liv, thank you for putting up with me even when it wasn’t easy. ‘Always be yourself, express yourself, have faith in yourself’, is the biggest lesson I have learnt from you all. Having to spend as much time together as we did taught me numerous lessons, gave me countless memories, and it’s safe to say I have definitely grown up but I could not have asked for a better group of people to spend a “gap year” with, and I am so lucky that I got to call this group my team.
As I move away to Newcastle to explore new options and meet new people while studying a Bachelor of Business and a Bachelor of Media and Communications, I look back on everything I have gained since joining Storyfest with immense gratitude.
No words can explain the love I have for what this organisation does and the people who bring it to life. If ever you get the chance to work at Storyfest, take it and don’t look back, this is an opportunity you don’t want to miss.
