Hi, my name is Ann Hamilton-Sturdy. I am a current mentee, and was very excited about the whole programme because this is the second time recently that I have been a mentee. The other time I was being mentored as a hockey umpire. Now, you might think ‘what has that got to do with interpreting’, but in fact there is a strong link.

I was a reluctant umpire (like most people) – but I was very passionate about my sport, hugely involved as a player, coach, committee member, bla bla bla. This would be the same for loads of people out there involved in netball, tennis, footy, fundraising for Kinder, etc. Since umpire bashing is a blood sport in Australia, you’d wonder why I put my hand up for it, but my intentions were honourable:

1. None of us can play sport without umpires.

2. I’d played for years and had the benefit of others umpiring. Now it was my turn to ‘give back’.

3. I knew the rules as well as anyone else.

What more did I need? Experience – I was identified as ‘potential’ and invited to join ‘the panel’ where I met all these people wearing uniforms with Australian and State badges. Mine was a Target t-shirt and the badge said ‘gym’. I met a few umpires who had done more umpiring by the time they were 18 than I had by the time I was 40. I felt totally inadequate and completely out of place. But I plodded on. Things got easier.

As I got more confident, I was given higher graded games. But nothing prepared me for the back-chat, or the sledging I started to get. My confidence was shaken to the core. There were days I left games in tears vowing never to return. Then there were days when I wanted to jump the fence, give someone a ‘Liverpool Kiss’, but I couldn’t do that. That was when my mentor stepped in – she guided me through and provided me with all sorts of tools to face any situation. She also provided a shoulder for me to cry on when I bashed myself up because I was made to feel so stupid. It was nothing to do with hockey – it was all to do with crowd control and body language. Somehow, she convinced me that the sledging was not about me personally, and that I had come too far to give up. I had the passion and commitment and should persevere – don’t let that be taken away from me! I now umpire regularly at a top level, one tier down from the all those brilliant people with Australian or International badges. I have no ambition to join their ranks, because I have found my spot. I have become the best I can be.

So how is this connected to interpreting? Well, my reasons for becoming an interpreter are honourable and valid, just like they were for umpiring – (remember the three points about umpiring)

1. The right to equal access. The Deaf community needs interpreters. Demand outstrips supply.

2. I believe that if you are part of the community, you should ‘give back’ to the community (even though I am actually being paid).

3. I had studied for three years. I have that NAATI Certificate.

I have the passion and the commitment, so what more did I need? Experience – I am sure all new interpreters feel the same as me – I just drool when I watch Paul Heuson, July Judd, Cindy Cave, Nick Maher, etc, etc, – the list of people I admire is endless, includes all level 3’s, most level 2’s and even includes some very young, new interpreters. I sometimes wondered if there was any point me going on, because I will never be like them. But that is not actually the aim. The aim is to be the best that I can be.

And that’s what the mentoring programme is for. I understand now that NAATI is the benchmark, not all those people I just mentioned. I also understand that I actually have plenty in common with them all – I have the essential ingredients – a respect for the language, the desire to provide access, and the commitment to keep learning. I have been on this earth a long time and have experience aplenty, but interpreting is new to me. Having a mentor to guide me, encourage me, and provide me with some tools to manage new situations is hugely beneficial. It fills in the gaps and teaches me to do a better job, not to be a better person.

Just as was the case with hockey, a mentor is a person who has been there, done that, and understands what I am going through. Mentoring gives me the tools to face new challenges head on, and to be the best that I can be.

So, if you are presented with an opportunity to be involved in a mentoring programme, grab it with both hands. If someone is standing in your way – knock them over and grab your chance. It will be well worth it.

ust one more thing – never let it be said that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks!