Dubbo-born and raised Renai Ransom has vivid and fond memories of the way June Dally-Watkins "lit up the room".
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Australia's etiquette queen, who died on February 22 aged 92, has been a source of inspiration for the graduate of her renowned business college for women.
"I will remember her as just being the most beautiful, glowing presence and she was so kind, with her politeness, it was genuine kindness," Mrs Ransom said.
The daughter of Sue and Alan Hood left home to enrol in the June Dally-Watkins Business Finishing College in Sydney in 1996.
Now a senior legal assistant with a global firm, she credits that year with opening doors and allowing her to lead a fulfilling career.
Mrs Ransom paid tribute to "Miss Dally".
While Ms Clifford, daughter of Ms Dally-Watkins, and another two women were at the reins of the college day to day, its founder regularly visited.
"She would often talk to the classes and her presence lit up a room," Mrs Ransom said.
"She was beautiful, she really was beautiful. She just had that glow about her.
"Always happy, always very kind, she's famous for saying every woman is beautiful and she truly made everybody feel that way."
The "country kid" was exposed to "so many wonderful experiences" during her year at the school, including Sydney's finest restaurants, and her first taste of Japanese cuisine. Fond memories include the time "Miss Dally" took the class to Parliament House to dine.
"She was greeted by everyone we walked past," Mrs Ransom said.
"It was wonderful to watch how Miss Dally hosted all of us... she made sure she spoke to each and every table of us, giving us encouragement and she was always one to have a laugh with, she had a great sense of humour."
The year was filled with accounting, business management, languages and deportment, with everything from skincare, make-up, hair, nails style and even lessons with the students walking with a book on their head.
But while Ms Dally-Watkins was famed for her knowledge of etiquette, for Mrs Ransom there was a more important lesson.
"For me, what she also really teaches is self-love, self-care, respect for yourself and I think the politeness and kindness that comes through that," she said.
"The elbows off the tables, all that kind of stuff, but there was a lot more about caring for yourself."
The Dubbo teen's hard work led to her being named dux of the college in 1996.
An employee of Dentons, Mrs Ransom is part of the firm's WomenLEAD committee, which promotes women in business, "something Miss Dally was always a strong supporter of".