MAORI WOMENS SUPPORT GROUP
Kotahitanga
 
Login - Username
Password
Home       
Contact Us       
What's On       
Melbourne Maori       
Maori Women in Business       
Helpful Links       
Maori Play Group       
 

     Ngaru                                                    

           

 Stories shared are from wahine all over Melbourne, about Why they came, what they've done where they're going, most importantly its a little window into who they are as maori women living in Australia.

Mana Wahine

 


Marihia's story

I am a mother of 6 children I moved to Australia in 1994 with 2 children and not much else,
What a shock it was to land in Queensland the Airport was not open 24 hours back then and our flight was the last one in for the night.
I had nowhere to stay my 2 eldest girls were 2 years old, and 10 months old, and we were stuck! I had to grow some balls and figure out what to do.
I had bugger all money and was told by my travel agent that we could stay over night at the Airport until morning to catch our connecting flight, That information was wrong and lucky for me a kiwi family from Pangaru saw that I was distressed and invited me to stay with them in Brisbane for the night, Which I did they were great and I was very lucky.
The next day I got on a plane.
I lived in Queensland for 10 years and had 4 more kids, I struggled to get any entitlements from anywhere I applied specially Medicare.
I moved all over the state of Queensland with my husband and his work “when ever he could get it”

In 1998 I lost my 5th daughter at a month old her name was Georgia Rae the medical reports say she died of S.I.D.S but I could not accept this as a baby that dies of S.I.D.S usually has nothing wrong with them, In my daughters case there were things wrong!
I found that I had to fight for everything, Then suddenly I am in the fight of my life trying to get the right answer, So after an exhaustive battle with Qld health the official cause of death was a Heart attack.
I mention my daughter Georgia Rae because she taught me how to fight smarter, like when to strike and when to settle timing and patience were the key to getting to the truth,
Georgia Rae was my drive and my strength when I needed it.
I went on to have a son I gave him 2 strong names from within my family, He was born strong and healthy like my other children

In 2004 I moved to Melton, Victoria, I love living in Melbourne!
Once we settled in my focus was my children, Helping them succeed at the ventures and training they chose to pursue, Somewhere in the middle I took up the opportunity to up skill myself.
I became involved with the Maori women's Support Group when I needed help and they were there for me, Since then I have looked at ways to implement my life experience's and skills to be beneficial to the support group

These are the things I am passionate about as my middle name suggests Te Awhi which means “ To care for, to love , to hold.”
I also enjoy writing stories and drawing I mostly draw flowers which helps me sleep, Writing helps me settle my mind when I have to much energy at 2.00am and should be sleeping, I find what I write about often has theme's from home intertwined throughout the story, or poem, or song, as I love music as well

There's a lot to take in when you first come over from home, You realise the supports you once had need to be created again through work, housing, sports, and making friends.
Everything is much faster in Australia the lifestyle and social values in the community are so different from home.
I laugh when I think of the Maori's that I pass on the street the ones that say Hi with their eye's and the ones that openly chat with me, I never realised I missed being apart of our Maori community so much!
Well now that I have written a short novel I will sign off.

Ka Kite Ano 

Marihia De Rungs


Gina's Story

"Relief" in one word is how i would describe my decision to move to Australia. so many reasons leading up to this moment, the loss of a love one, a rift with a whanau member. When the day came to leave, i just couldn't wait to get out of NZ.  "Relief" such a loaded word under these circumstances.  Not such an easy feat for a single mum with 3 young tamariki, but i've always known, us wahine, we can do anything we put our minds to.

My transition to this new country was made easy and felt effortless largely due to the unconditional love and support given by whanau already living here.

It was a real culture shock though. Gosh, I wasn't used to people staring at me even for 1 second. Back home if someone stared at you for 5 seconds or more it seemed inevitable there was gonna be a fight. Yes that person " had an eye problem" and wants to fight!!. Wow, some real crack ups, but im happy to report that im somewhat cultured now and no longer find it offensive if someone glances my way.

My sister-inlaw got me signed up for everything! Family tax, a new bank account, medicare the works and within a week of arriving i was already getting paid. They don't call this "the lucky country" for nothing.

Life was good.

Then the news of the death of a loved one back home was the first time any of us had to deal with the fact we are actually in  a different country and the yearning to go home was great. The shock i was feeling ran deep and i was emotionally frail. With no kaumatua here to turn to, for the first time since landing, I felt vulnerable. Where is the strong face i look to when i am weak? Where is the mouth where wise words flow as i long to hear guidance. Through this experience i learnt, not until much later that it is all in me. As it has always been in each of us, to have complete faith in oneself.

My years in Aussie i have experienced what most will in life, love , happiness, hardship, trials, failure and success. In many ways i have grown and matured while here in Australia. There is one thing that will stay with me for life when i look back to reflect on my time here and that is the support and encouragement received from family and friends alike. They're the ones, the special somebodies that make your day/week or year,  lighten the load.

I have learnt alot and will continue to learn. I also hope i can be counted on, to be relied upon, and be that special someone for somebody, the same way it has been for me. My journey here in Australia is far from over and i look forward to the future and what it brings.

My story ends with a proverb i read recently.

Ko te manu e kai ana i te miro i noona te ngahere
Ko te manu e kai ana i te maatauranga, noona te ao.
The bird who feeds on the miroberry, it's domain is the forest
The bird who feeds on knowledge, it's domain is the world

 

 

 

 

 

   This website is part of the CommunityGuide.com.au Network
SEO - Search Engine Optimisation Results by Websyte Corporation