Tania Kelaart has been a Hoppers Crossing resident for 30 years and spends her time volunteering for a number of organisations. The founder of the Wyndham Women’s Support Group recently received a Lalor Hero award for her efforts. As told to Charlene Macaulay.
What’s your connection to Wyndham?
I migrated from Sri Lanka about 32 years ago and we were living in Prahan for a couple of years renting because my husband worked in South Yarra. We were looking around to buy a house and settle down, have a family, and we looked around a little bit on both sides [of the city]. When we came to Wyndham, we felt it was a really great place at that time to bring up a family because it was sort of semi-country and there was freshness in the air.
How did you meet your husband, Darrel?
I was in school back in Sri Lanka, I was 15, and we used to catch the same bus going to school. I would also see him at my local church, so that’s where we really got to know each other and it sparked from there. It’s been a long-time relationship – we celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary last year.
My three kids were all born here, they went to school here, the lot.
You founded the Wyndham Women’s Support Group. Tell me about that.
I started it about three-and-a-half years ago with a friend of mine. Both of us had a background in counselling and we had wanted for a long time to set up a group for women, so we connected with Wyndham City Council … through that we were assisted through a program called the Health Champions. We focused on mental health for women and from that we started our first support group. We were looking at women who were experiencing grief and loss and isolation and it evolved to a group of more general support for women. We give them a safe space to come and talk and be listened to … I try and support them through whatever they’re going through.
We also do various activities throughout the term. We have a group at the Wyndham Plaza library that runs on a Thursday from 10.30am to 1pm, and the other one is at Arndell Park Community Centre in Truganina on a Monday. I do wish that we can build many groups like this in Wyndham, because it’s such a positive place for women to come and meet.
You also volunteer at a number of other organisations.
I do a lot of voluntary work at my local church, I’m in the choir – we have a family choir, actually. I’m also part of the Good Samaritan Ministry. We visit isolated and elderly people within our parish. I’m also involved with the Burmese community. On a Friday afternoon I go to Wyndham Park Community Centre and help with a homework club for those from refugee backgrounds.
I’m also involved with an anxiety recovery group, which runs once a month on a Monday. I’m also involved with IPC Health – I’m on one of the committees there. We come from a very community-based culture, so it’s important for us to reach out to other people.
Do you have a favourite Wyndham spot?
Just this week, my two daughters and I went to the Coffee Pot – it’s beautiful because you can see the river. I like the rose garden. I also love going to Werribee South and driving past all the market gardens and eventually getting to the harbour.
If there was one thing you could change about the area, what would it be?
I think we need more and more places for people to connect; and more support for people with various issues or problems.
