By Michael Newhouse
LYDIA Charlamow is proud to have spent her years giving something back to the country that provided her and her family with a new life, and this month she was finally rewarded for her efforts.
Having migrated to Australia as a young child after the end of World War II, Ms Charlamow knows just how difficult it can be for new migrants coming to Australia for the first time.
This month the Victorian Government presented the long-time Ardeer resident with a multicultural affairs award for her decades of tireless work helping the Russian, and eastern European ex-pat community settle into Victoria.
“I was surprised, very pleasantly of course, and it is a great honour to be awarded any award, in particular one multicultural (award),” Ms Charlamow told Star.
Ms Charlamow is semi-retired, but still works as the public officer for the Russian Ethnic Representative Council of Victoyment services, runs pensioners’ groups, children’s groups, and provides a whole range of other services.
Born in the Ukraine during the Soviet years, Ms Charlamow’s parents travelled across Europe after the outbreak of World War II, staying in camps in Austria, Germany and Italy before coming to Australia by ship in 1950.
At first it was difficult for the family, as Australia learnt to cope with millions of new post-war migrants, many of whom moved into areas of Brimbank.
The Ukranian, Russian and Polish newcomers descended on places near Ardeer and surrounding suburbs.
“You have to understand their position: no language, in a foreign country, millions of miles away from what they were used to.
“It’s hard, it’s tough,” she said.
“My mum sat on the case and cried and cried and cried – she didn’t know what was worse, being there (Europe) or being here (Australia).”
Eventually the family found its feet and Ms Charlamow has spent the past three decades trying to give something back to the country that offered her family a haven in the turbulent years of post-war Europe.
“That is my whole aim, to a) to help people and b) to somehow thank Australia, and by doing community work I think it is the best thing to give back some of the things we’ve been lucky for,” she said.
It is one thing to accept the generosity of a country such as Australia, but it is another to dedicate your life to paying back that generosity.
“Half the time I can’t leave the house, because if I do I know someone on the road who wants me to pop in and have a chat and a cup of tea,” she joked, saying she was really more than glad to give up her time.
Ms Charlamow said that although the recognition was nice, the biggest reward was the work itself.
