By Esther Lauaki
What’s your connection to Melton?
I am a resident and have been involved in a number of community projects for many years.
How long have you lived in the area?
I have lived here for 18 years.
What are you passionate about?
Community work and weight loss.
Tell us about your involvement with the Melton TOWN club.
I started in 2010 and have been involved at all levels, from a general member through to club leader and board member. The group originated 50 years ago in Victoria. It’s completely different to other weight-loss groups. It becomes a friendship group. There were 80 members in the Melton area when it first started, but now there are 32 members.
Collectively among those members, we’ve logged a 150-kilogram loss between April 1 to March 31.
Tell us a bit about how you came to be involved with the club.
At the time I lost my husband and I wanted to be involved in something. Originally, I lost 40 kilograms and over the years it slowly crept back, then I lost it again. Weight loss is a constant battle and goes up and down.
What do you love about helping people reach their weight goals?
A lot of people come in with a very negative mindset … after a while it’s a like a light comes on and all of a sudden you’re in the zone. New members come in and people rejoin the group.
What other hats do you wear in the community?
For about four years, myself and the club have supported Relay for Life. We wanted to find another way to give back to the community so we decided to participate in the Share the Dignity Christmas appeal #itsinthebag, where we each donate a handbag filled with sanitary products and toiletries for women in crisis. At our last meeting – on Tuesday, November 11 – I was absolutely blown away with everyone’s generous donations. We filled 30 handbags! A lot of the bags were brand new and all filled to the brim with products. It was a very heartwarming sight to see everyone pitch in to help assemble the handbags. Even the men all helped.
What do you love about Melton?
Home is what you make of it. I love that we have parklands and I know my way around.
What would you like to see improved?
The bus services could be improved. Public transport is still not up to scratch.
