AustrAliA DAy honours AuntyJi of the CoMMunity

For service to the community through multicultural and aged welfare organisations

local news. All my students who have settled in different parts of the world, some of whom I don’t even remember, have found out about the award and are sending me good wishes,” said the 85-year-old Mrs Arora with her characteristic enthusiasm.

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.

and she became one of the first women of Indian origin to be awarded a Shilling Wall certificate by the Victorian Multicultural Commission.

hnot stopped ringing and her inbox is flooded with emails ever since people have found out that Melbourne Indian community’s favourite ‘Auntyji’ has received the Order of Australia Medal (OAM) recently. Krishna Arora has been inundated with

As a community stalwart, food enthusiast and former Principal of the Pusa Institute of Hotel Management, Mrs Arora’s popularity within the community knows no geographical barriers.

“One of my former students from Muradabad (India) rang me recently to tell me that my photograph had appeared in their

Dr kamal puri, Australia Day Achievement Medallion

the Australia Day Achievement Medallions are awarded under the auspices of the Australia Day Council to promote good citizenship and achievement. They acknowledge employee contributions 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.

Dr Kamal Puri, Senior Principal Research Scientist with the Bureau of Meteorology, won an Australia Day Achievement Medallion for his work in weather modelling.

The Bureau Executive on the basis of nominations submitted by senior managers determines medallion recipients within the Bureau of Meteorology.

Dr Kamal Puri is the Research Programme leader for Earth System Modelling Programme and has led the Bureau of Meteorology’s Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) modelling and research since 1980. He was a key figure in establishing the Australian Community Climate and Earth System Simulator (ACCESS) that enabled the CSIRO and Bureau of Meteorology to have the best possible scientific tools for climate impact and adaptation analysis, and

Enthusiasm is only one of the words synonymous with Krishna Aunty; others that come to mind are tireless, energetic, helpful, caring…. the list goes on. With no intentions of hanging up her boots yet, her daily schedule at 85 is busier than ever. At any given time she is either off to a seniors meeting, joining the Australia Day parade, helping someone in need, dancing with Shiamak Davar’s students, cooking up a delicious meal or lobbying for a cause with local politicians. “I do whatever I can as I enjoy helping people,” said Ms Arora, giving credit to 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 and two grandchildren.

“I may not have been able to do

Born in Bangalore, Mrs Arora is the co-founder of the Indian Senior Citizen’s Association (ISCA) and currently on the Executive Committee of FIAV (Federation of Indian Associations of Victoria) as a representative of the Sangam community organization.

She was the Founder and Principal of the Pusa Institute of Hotel Management in Delhi before retiring and migrating to Australia. Mrs Arora has authored several cook-books and contributes a regular food column in a local publication based in Melbourne. She runs a hotline tele-service offering cooking tips to people. Mrs Arora has also won several awards and citations over the years. In 2010, she was honoured with the Shilling Wall tribute for her outstanding contribution to the community. Her name was engraved on the Queen Victoria’s Women Centre Wall,

“Receiving the Order of Australia medal is wonderful, but my real reward is the blessings, affection and respect that I have earned for helping people, especially newly arrived migrants,” claimed Mrs Arora. There are countless stories of how Mrs Arora has helped those in need, not necessarily documented or recorded, as that was not her intent.

“There are so many young families who need guidance and support from those who have lived here longer; there are people suffering from depression in their attempt to settle in a new country; there are elderly citizens who are not looked after well by their families. I try to help wherever I can in my personal capacity and recently through the FIAV, and I will continue to do so,” said the stalwart Mrs Arora.

Preeti Jabbal