AUNTYJI OF THE COMMUNITY

For service to the community through multicultural and aged welfare organisations

The Australia Day Achievemeor Medal.lions are awarded under the auspices of the Australia Day Council to promote good ciri2enship and achievement.

They acknowledge emploree comriburions on special projects that have made a significant contribution to the nation, or outstanding performance of core duties in the year prior to which the award is presented.

Di: Kamal Puri, Senior Principal Research Scientist with u1e Bureau of Meteorology, won an Australia Day Achievement Medallion for his work in weatl1er mode lling. 8 congtarulacions!

As a communii:y sralwarr, food enth usiast and former Principal of the Pusa lnscimte of Hotel Management, Mrs Arora's popularity within the community knows no geographical bar riers.

"One of my former students from Muradabad (India) rang me recently to LeU me that my photograph had appeared in their local news. Ali my srudenrs who have seeded in different parts of the world, some of whom I don't even remember, have found o ut about the award a nd are sending me good wishes," said the 85-year-old Mrs Arora with her characteriscic enthusiasm Enthusiasm is only one of the words synonymous with Kris hna Aunty; others that come to mind are cire less, energetic, helpful, caring the list goes on With no intentions of hanging up ber boots yer, her dail y schedule at 85 i s b u sier than ever. At any given rime she is either off ro a seniors meeting, joining the Australia Day parade, helping someone in need, dancing witl1 Shiamak Davar's students, cooking up a delicious meal or lobbying for a cause with local po.licicians. " I do whatever 1 can as I enjoy helping people," said i\lls Arora, giving credit co her family who encourage and support her in all her endeavours.

Krishna Aunty migrated to Australia in 1992 to live with her daughter, son -in-law a nd two grandchildren.

"I may not have been able to do much if I did not have freedom of movement, but thanks to my family I am able to dedicate time and effort in working with the community," she said.

Born in Bangalore, Mrs Arora is the co -founder of the Indian Senior Citizen's Association (ISO\) and currently on the Executive Committee of PIAV (Federation of Indian Associations of Victoria) as a representative of the Sangan1 community organization.

She was the Fou nder and Principal of the Pusa Institute of Hotel Managemeot in Delhi befote retiring and migrating to Australia. Mrs Arora has authored several cook- books and conrributes a regular food column in a local publicauon based in Melbourne. She runs a h oili11e tele -service offeri11g cooking rips to peop le. Mrs Arora has also won several awatds and citations over the years. ln 2010, she was h onoured with the Shilling Wall tribute for her outstan ding comribution ro the community. Her name was engraved on tl1e Queen Victoria's Women Cenrre \WaU, and s he became o ne of the fuse women of Indian origi n to be awarded a Shilling Wall certificate b y tl1e Vicrorian Mulricultural Commissi o n.

"Receiving the Order of Ausa:alia medal is wonderful, b ut my real reward i s the blessings, affectio n and respect that I have earned for helping people, especia lly newly arrh, ed migraocs," claimed Mrs Arora. Th ere are cmmtless sto ries of how 1\ilrs Arora has helped chose in need, nor necessarily documented or recorded, as that was not h er intent.

"There are so many roung farnilies who need guidance and support from those who have lived here longer; there are peop le suffering from depression in their attempt to settle in a ne w country; there are e lderly citizens who are not looked after well by their families I try co help wherever l can in my personal capacity and recently tl1rougb the FIJ\V, and l will continue to do so," said the stalwart i\frs Arora.

Preeti Jabbal