As Melbourne was going through a major heatwave, community advocate Veronika Levchenkova told Jaidyn Kennedy a bit about herself and one of the world’s coldest places.
Can you tell us a bit about yourself and what you do?
Hi, my name is Veronika Levchenkova. I am a mum of four, a grand mum, a carer for an elderly parent and a community advocate. Currently, I’m privileged to work at a First Nations philanthropy fund, as well as volunteering at a First Nations female business as a business support. Additionally, I’m involved in multiple community projects across the west. I’m passionate about community, environment, sustainability and multiculturalism.
What is your connection to Melton and Wyndham?
I stated working in Werribee in 2016 when I first joined Western Community Legal Centre (Westjustice) and have been actively involved in many local projects ever since. We have called Melton home from 2019 and here I am also involved in local community groups and projects.
What are your favourite things about these areas?
I love the multicultural aspect of both areas, with Wyndham being proactive with community development projects through its long standing Building Blocks program and other initiatives, and Melton being a hub for small business support through its festivals and online tools.
Where are your favourite places to spend time locally?
In Wyndham our favourite places are the Werribee Open Range Zoo and Werribee Mansion where you can spend all day enjoying the beautiful surroundings and nature. In Melton, it is the Library and Botanical Garden with the amazing efforts of local volunteers who transform the space into thriving spot for local residents, flora and fauna.
Can you tell us a little bit about the city you grew up in?
I’m from the coldest city on Earth – the capital of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), Yakutsk. Temperatures can vary drastically depending on the season. With -60C in January and +40C in July. This land is vast and remote and home to six different indigenous nations. The traditional clothes I humbly wear today where gifted to me by my First Nations friend and represent Sakha people – the most populous group out of the six. They speak Sakha language (Turkic linguistic group) and possess old and unique culture.
Is there anything you would change about where you live?
I work closely with different community groups in both areas and strive to listen to as many voices as possible to understand challenges of different communities.
