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Multicultural tales to be told
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Posted: 03/07/2008
MULTICULTURALISM will be the topic of this Saturday’s ‘Tales From Within: Borrow A Living Book’ session outside Fogarty’s Jewellers.
Dinesh Chaminda Attygalla and Mara Ronald will speak about their experiences settling in Wodonga.
Mr Attygalla migrated to Australia in September, 2007 from Sri Lanka in order to have a happy and full life.
He worked as a radio journalist with the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (state-owned public service network), but when he arrived in Australia found it hard to get work in her field.
Alternatively, he found work as a kitchenhand and a factory labourer.
He now works at the brand new First Choice Liquor store in Albury, which opened late last month.
Mr Attygalla said he was sponsored by the Murray Regional Development Board upon coming to Australia.
“One of my relations came to pick me up at the airport and he gave me accommodation for my family,” he said.
“When we came here, we realised that it is very hard to get a unit to rent without a job, but at last we did get a unit because of the recommendation from the Murray Regional Development Board.”
To find out how Mr Attygalla and his family are doing, come along to the front of Fogarty’s Jewellers from 11am to noon this Saturday.
Ms Ronald will speak from noon to 1pm at the same location about growing up with Latvian refugee parents in Yackandandah.
She grew up bilingual and has worked as a dental assistant, in marketing and teaching English to adult migrants.
Her ambition is to visit the 1001 UNESCO places and live to be 110.
She is the author of small book, No Villa At Bonegilla.
Ms Ronald said there is passion in the value of multiculturalism.
“I have been involved in building awareness of the value of Bonegilla and what it could be,” she said.
“Because of this I value family and Christmas gatherings.
“There were 54 for Christmas Eve at last year’s family gathering.”
Ms Ronald went to a tiny rural primary school at Kancoona (no longer there) and on to high school at Mt Beauty and Wodonga.
She later completed a Bachelor of Business and Diploma of Education at university.
Other activities at Saturdays On High this week include the launch of a new Gorf treasure hunt called ‘Friends On High’, the Wodonga Market in Woodland Grove from 9am to 1pm, a free cardio and toning session as part of the Winter Warm-Up program (being ran by Step Into Life) and quality local buskers including Richard Perso.
