I am a first generation Australian.

My mother came here as a child, from New Zealand in the 1930s during WWII. My father arrived in the early 50s from India as part of the Colombo Plan. They met at Melbourne University around the time of the ’56 Olympics and headed back to India for their wedding and stayed there for several years.

My younger sister and I were both born in Melbourne (Bethesda Hospital in Richmond). I lived in India for the first 2 years of my life and then we resettled here, firstly living in Olinda with my maternal Grandmother, then a flat in Young St. Kew overlooking the Yarra, Walmer St. Bridge and the original site of Little Audrey, the skipping girl. Later we moved to Surrey Hills.

Although I am very proud to be an Aussie, I am even happier to call Melbourne my home.

There are three things I particularly love about living in Melbourne: The great acceptance of the positive aspects of multiculturalism which I believe is much stronger here than in the other capital cities (My family certainly embodies this: Indian dad, Kiwi mum, Australian born Greek husband, the father of my niece was a Cambodian refugee, the best man at our Greek Orthodox wedding was Chinese and the schools I have chosen to teach in embrace students and staff from all over the world); I also love the vibrant live music scene which I have enjoyed being a part of since the early 70s and which still continues in one form or another to this day; and fnally, the beautiful parks and gardens that give us the name “Garden city”.

So, living in Australia is something I would never change and living in Melbourne, something I truly treasure.

– Melinda (Mindi) Bakopanos