Local student Lilly enjoys work experience at two regional newspapers

By Simon Ruppert

Jun 20, 2025

McPherson Media Group work experience student Lilly Carpenter (left of centre, in red) with all the participants at Seymour Coles’ ice-bucket challenge. Photo by Simon Ruppert

For the past week, McPherson Media Group has had the privilege of hosting a work experience student from a local school.

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Seymour College Year 10s are given an opportunity to do a four-day placement in a local company to gain experience of a typical workplace.

Lilly Carpenter chose to do her work experience at her local newspaper, the Seymour Telegraph, which also gave her an opportunity to work at its sister paper, the Benalla Ensign.

She said she was delighted to get an opportunity to work across two newspapers and had enjoyed her time.

“My first day was in Benalla where I was required to go out and about to take some photos of the town in winter,” she said.

“I also had an opportunity to see how different articles are selected to go on different pages, and the process of putting them online and sharing them through social media.”

Lilly’s second day was in Seymour, and was a bit more fun.

“I worked from Seymour covering Coles’ ice-bucket challenge raising funds for, and awareness of, MND,” she said.

“I also wrote some questions and interviewed store manager of Coles, Caz Watson.”

After her interview Lilly had an opportunity to take part in the ice-bucket challenge, braving the cold while having a bucket of icy water poured over her head.

After drying off, she had an opportunity to help write an article using the responses to the questions she drafted and asked.

On Wednesday, June 18, Lilly was working in Seymour, once again.

She joined journalist Billie Davern on a visit to U3A’s music logic class, where she interviewed some of the participants for an article.

“I also took photos of the music class,” she said.

Following that, she was once again sent out with a camera.

“I had to take stock photos of local buildings and locations, including the police station, fire station, St Mary’s College and Seymour College,” she said.

On Thursday, Lilly was once again heading up the Hume Fwy for a day’s work in Benalla.

Her main task for the morning was to write up this article.

For the rest of the day she was assisting with more interviews and photography.

“This work experience was very interesting, and I had a few new experiences, which was fun,” she said.