GETTING INVOLVED WITH THE WIDER COMMUNITY

Philomena Docherty, OAM Forservice to the communitythrough a range oforganisations

Thecongratulations are pouring infrom all directions as we speak with PhilomenaDocherty about her Australia Day honour. She claims sheisgrateful to aU the"littlefairies"chatworkedbehindthe scenes tomakeit happen,and although she is looking forward to d1einvestiture inApril,sheintends toremainthe Isame Philomenawid1 no change" after receiving her newtide.

The Melbourne-based Mrs Docherty was fel.icitatedforher commLtnity service wid1organisationssuch asrheRoyal FlyingDoctor Service, Lioness Club of Camberwell,Liberal Party of Victoria, MorhersAuxiliary Group DeLa Salle College, St Cecilia's Parish,Jambudvipa YouthAssociation forIndianArts and the Bharatam DanceCompany.

Philomena hails from Chennaiwhere she met her husband,Australian born and raised, Bernard Docherty.Theywereborh involved with rheYoungChristian Workers (YCW)movementthat aims to create an interculmralsocietywheresolidarityand justiceprevail.Bernie was inIndia for three years as part of YC\Y/and he returned to Australiawith20-year-oldPhilomena as hiswife.They stayed in Moorabbin with Bernie's mother, initial1y, till they moved to live in Glen Iris,Melbourne.

According to Philomena Dochercy, Australians welcomed herwid1'open arms' when shearrived hereto livewithher husbandand his family.

"I came toAustralia in 1963when the WhiteAustraliapolicywas yet co be officially abolished," sherecounts. "I came wid1 trepidation but no hesitation to live with mymod1er-in-lawwho proved tobe marvellous.Sheguidedme andmadeit very easyforme tosettlein."

Talkingabout her early days,Philomena rhose she met as "frienclly, sincereandeasygoing".

"I feelpeoplewhomigratetoAustralia should becomeinvolvedwid1 thelarger community rather than restricting themselves to groupswith similar race, religion or social background," she advises.

Tbe couplewentonto raise their three childrengiving them a deep understanding of bod1 Indian and Australian heritage, which enabled diem toentwined1e two cultures and embrace rhebest of borh.

Accordingto Philomena's daughter, Ambika,duringtheearly years of adapting to her adopted country, Philomena fullyrealisedrhatculturalexchangewas necessary. She becamea self-appointed ambassador for India, andwas invited to speak at many occasions on lndia and her life d1ere.Australiawas stil1 in its early stages of dismantlingtheWhiteAustralia Policy,and rherewereliterally only a handful of other Indian families livingin Melbourne.

Indian food was not easily available soPhilomena and Berniestarted an Indian catering service in 1970.In 1971, Philomenawas rhe manager of theIndian restaurant as part of Gini's restaurant in Toorak.Followingd1is,in 1972shewas appointed by theGovernment of India as1vfanager of rheIndianTeaCentrein Melbourne city.Aspart of their catering business, Philomena andBernie conducted Indian cooking classes and often took rhe students onguided wurs tO India.

Bernie's familywere alwaysgreat supporters of theLiberal Party and Philomena joined rheirwomen's section in 2000 as member, supporter and fundraiser. Shewas meco-founderand vice-chairrnan of their first mulciculmral branch in Victoria.

Philomena's accomplishments are diverse and over theyears she has garnered enormous responseand support for her chosen causes. A namral leader,she is both inspiredandinspiring,possessingagreat passion that drives her in everydung she does PreetiJabbal