'Love what you do, or stop doing it': Priscilla Schonell on animals, architecture and real estate

It takes a certain kind of person to volunteer to muck out the animals’ cages at the zoo just to be close to them. But that’s what McGrath Mosman’s Priscilla Schonell, now the chairperson of the Zoofari Fundraising Committee, did in her early days of helping out at Taronga Zoo.

A successful agent on the lower north shore for 17 years, she is also a self-confessed Francophile and recently met – and curtsied to –the Duchess of Sussex. Priscilla lives with her family in Mosman.

Have you always loved animals?

As long as I remember. Growing up in Mosman, I was at Taronga Zoo almost every weekend. They had these entry turnstiles and I was so skinny I could slip through without paying.

What did you do after finishing school?

I lived in Belgium for three years, working as an au pair. When I came back home I did an arts degree and ended up with first-class honours in French. I was recruited by IBM and ended up working there for six years.

How did real estate come about?

While I loved the sales side of working for IBM, I didn’t love the product. I loved architecture and interior design so in the early 2000s, I thought real estate might be good. I did some work experience at Belle Property, and loved it. I was recruited by McGrath two years later and have been with them for over 15 years now.

Does your French ever come in handy?

Occasionally, if I have French clients coming into open homes and I can greet them in French. They usually get a bit of a surprise.

What has the job taught you about people?

I’ve discovered that people are essentially good, and made some very good friends working in real estate. I sold Steve Liebmann’s Mosman property just a couple of weeks ago, and I loved helping him achieve his goals.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

My volunteer work. I’ve always done volunteering in some capacity, ever since I was at school. I spent five years doing Meals on Wheels on Fridays for Mosman Council. I also started working at the zoo with the keepers on alternate Fridays. I would help them feed the animals and muck out the enclosures. It was incredible, having the spider monkeys climb onto my head and shoulders, and meeting some gorillas up close and personal. From there, I moved into the fundraising committee and have been doing that for four years, helping to raise vital funds for Taronga’s conservation works.

Any other zoo highlights?

I met the Duke and Duchess of Sussex the other week, when they were opening the Taronga Institute of Science and Learning. I shook hands with Harry and curtsied to Meghan. I was determined to curtsy, because I think I’ll never get that opportunity again.

Your most memorable sale?

In 2008, I sold apartment 2/2E Mosman Street in Mosman Bay for $7.5 million, breaking the then suburb apartment record by more than $1 million. What made it extra special was it was on Black Friday, the day Lehmann Brothers crashed and the GFC started.

What is your motto?

Love what you do, or stop doing it