What is your connection to Melton?
I grew up in Rockbank and attended Melton Secondary College between 1990 and 1995.
My children attend school in Melton and play their sports here. Basketball, football and soccer.
I also work at Goodstart Early Learning Melton – Centenary Avenue.
How long have you lived in the area?
I lived in Melton from 1997 to 2016. I now reside in Hillside.
What are you passionate about?
I am passionate about human rights and social justice. I’m also passionate about everyone having a fair go and respect for each other.
What was the best thing about living in Melton/Moorabool?
That we are a country type of town with lots of trees and open spaces and also not too far from the city, Geelong or the coast, or country Victoria.
Tell me about your involvement in the community.
I have worked at Wedge Park Primary School, Kurunjang After School Care, I’ve been on the parent committee for Melton Primary School and was a member for Melton Knights Basketball Club.
In my workplace, I teach our staff, children and families about … the Wurundjeri people and generally about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
What made you want to be an advocate for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island community?
My mob are from Yuin country New South Wales. I support and love my sister and her Aboriginal husband and children in our family.
What advocacy projects have you been working on and who with?
For a couple of years I have been advocating for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags to be hung up alongside the Australian flag in the Melton Indoor Rec Centre Court 1, With Melton Basketball Association. This is where my husband and I and children attend almost every week for basketball … for the Knights or for Melton Thoroughbreds and Melton Youth League.
Faatasi and I acquired the flags and they were handed over to the president of Melton Basketball Association with an acknowledgement of country earlier this month to be hung.
What would people be surprised to know about you?
That I am a big kid at heart and love the
Hulk and Harry Potter. My 40th birthday
cake last year was three tiers and were
Batman, Wolverine and an awesome Hulk fist on top!
If you could change anything about the area, what would it be?
For the council and community to celebrate
the diverse cultures who live here in the area. I’d love a festival showcasing the variety
of foods, clothing, music dance, art. To bring the community together to learn about each others cultures and more concerning awareness and acceptance of each other.
An aboriginal playground with lots of art work around
and cut-outs of Australian animals and
their tracks and traditional Woiwurrung names.
