CATHERINE Stoney was about to leave work early when she was cornered by her colleagues.
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The unsuspecting Invermay Primary School employee was told she had been selected as an Administrative Professional of the Year finalist.
“I did not expect it at all,” she said. “I had no idea they had nominated me.”
But Ms Stoney was even more surprised when she won the award at the Administrative Professionals Breakfast on Friday morning.
More than 300 people from Ballarat businesses attended the annual awards at the Ballarat Golf Club.
United Way Ballarat hosts the awards to celebrate National Administrative Professionals Day and recognise the efforts of administration staff.
Ms Stoney has worked in administration and integration support at the school for almost 10 years.
“We are a small school, with only 56 students,” she said.
Ballarat cancer survivor and blogger Lisa Hayden was the keynote speaker at the event.
Ms Hayden spoke about the importance of administration and support staff in business.
The mother and blogger is renowned for her blog Girl at the Ironing Board, which she began while undergoing breast cancer treatment 11 years ago.
“I started writing letters to my children. I was very ill at the time and I wanted them to have stories to read if I died,” she said.
Ms Hayden’s private stories were eventually shared on her blog, which is still in operation.
United Way chief executive Geoff Sharp said the awards honoured the administration staff of Ballarat.