‘Be true to yourself’: Kathryn Mackenzie overcomes being in the minority

One of the first individuals to go to university from her town, Ms Mackenzie explained that it was difficult being in a minority, not only as a country kid but also as a woman.

“It was just hard. If I got married, I lost the scholarship and if I fell pregnant while you were at university, I lost the scholarship but if the same things happened to a man, they didn’t lose theirs.

“Even when I started work, I was discriminated against even though I probably had the same results, if not better than the male teacher in the next classroom, but he still earned more.

“When I did end up getting married, I then lost my superannuation because I was married.”

She said there was a lack of choice and variety in terms of career paths for women who would only be offered jobs as a nurse or a teacher.

“I’ve really been on that journey,” Ms McKenzie said.

She admires how far women have worked towards carving out their “rightful role as equals in society”.

“To me, International Women’s Day is really celebrating women, right across the spectrum,” Ms McKenzie said.

“There’s still a way to go but I just hope that people like myself have been a role model to my students that I taught, even to women who want to carve out a new career at 50 to think that you can do anything at any time in your life.”

Ms Mackenzie is the living, breathing example of going for opportunities at any age.

She went into the tourism sector at the age of 50 after being a successful and well-known teacher.

She worked as executive manager of tourism with the City of Greater Bendigo for many years before being appointed as chief executive of Echuca Moama Tourism in 2017.

“You’re never too old and you shouldn’t be pigeon-holed,” Ms Mackenzie said.

She explained that changing her career path meant starting from the bottom again and building her way up.

“I started on the bottom rung again even though I was quite high up as a teacher. That doesn’t matter though, you work your way up as you learn.”

“If I had just been appointed to a high position then I wouldn’t have the same level of understanding, I wouldn’t have the insights and I don’t think I’d be the person I am today with the same breadth of experience.”

Ms Mackenzie’s best advice is “step down to step up.”

“Life is a journey and it’s about gaining experience.

“If you’re doing what you love and you’re really valuing your journey, you end up being well-experienced, well-respected and well remunerated for whatever it is you do.”

As to why she chose tourism, Ms Mackenzie said she enjoyed the creative side of coming up with ideas.

“It’s really about envisioning a destination and then putting together an action plan to bring that vision to fruition.”

“In life, my motto has been to make a difference and I think tourism is one of those fields where you can inspire, you can support, and you can make a difference.”

Ms Mackenzie works alongside small groups, industry groups, the accommodation sector, the hospitality and retail industry, the councils, event organisers, businesses and individuals to develop worthwhile tourism initiatives for the community.

She said that being the CEO of Echuca Moama Tourism could be challenging, particularly during the pandemic when there were border closures and different sets of rules and funding available for both states.

She explained that prior to the pandemic, Echuca-Moama was receiving $1.3 million a day in tourism, which had now dropped to 50 per cent of that amount.

Ms Mackenzie still holds the belief that working in the tourism sector means working in a positive sector, because you are always looking forward to the next bright opportunity that comes along.

“Even in the middle of the pandemic, operators were busy doing what they could during this time.

“They were painting, they were rebuilding and they were upgrading their businesses and I just think that’s inspirational.”

“Working with real people that are good-willed, that is what inspires me every day.”

Ms McKenzie puts her helpful nature down to her upbringing where she was expected to contribute to the family and to the community from a young age.

“All my life, I’ve wanted to make a contribution and give back because I think that’s all we’ve got in life — to give back to what gives to us.”

“If we all do that, then we all live in a really positive world.”

Her advice to a young girl who has a dream of making a difference is “just be true to yourself, you don’t have to be anybody else. You are good enough to be who you are”.

“Look for the joy in life. The things that bring joy to you.

“These are the things that I strive for everyday — to be me, to be genuine, ethical, to do what I say I’m going to do, admit my mistakes, try not to make the same mistakes again and own up to everything that you do.”

Ms Mackenzie explained that making mistakes in life was a part of being human.

“Own it, wear it but do better the next time.”