Multiculturalism advocate Dr Sundram Sivamalai has been named Ballarat's Citizen of the Year in the 2021 Australia Day Awards.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Born in Malaysia and living in Ballarat since 1988, Dr Sivamalai is a community advocate, mentor, inter-cultural facilitator and academic, and has a career as a nurse and nurse educator.
Not that Dr Sivamalai will take credit for his achievements as being anything other than what any community-minded person would strive to do.
"I'm sure there are many other worthy people out there doing much more work than I am doing here," Dr Sivamalai says.
OTHER AUSTRALIA DAY AWARD RECIPIENTS
"At the same time, it's wonderful to receive this. I was quite surprised when I was nominated... It's a great occasion, because I love Ballarat... It's a privilege. There are a lot of unsung heroes, but I have been privileged."
Dr Sivamalai is at pains to specify he was not seeking recognition for his work.
"I want to do it; I want to make the change in (people's) lives," he says.
"What does it mean? I have been a migrant myself, I have that firsthand experience. All the turbulences I have been through, I am able to share them, and have a listening ear.
"In some cases I have been in contact (with people) for the last 25, 30 years. They are still in touch. Every now and then I get a note: 'Sundram! How are you going?'"
Working to assist people to establish their lives in Ballarat for over 30 years, Dr Sivamalai says there are good reasons to keep going into the future.
"I do it because I have received a lot of support from the community. All my children were educated in Ballarat; they now have fledged, so there has been a lot of help and assistance. In my early days, when I was studying in Dundee (Scotland), I got a council scholarship to do my A-levels... and then a scholarship from Brisbane and Melbourne. Those scholarships changed my profile, and have given me the stepping stone to the future."
Dr Sivamalai founded the Ballarat Regional Multicultural Council, the peak multicultural group in the Central Highlands Grampians region partnering with other community and cultural associations to promote multiculturalism throughout the region.
He says things have changed since 1988.
It's wonderful to receive this... It's a great occasion, because I love Ballarat
- Dr Sundram Sivamalai
"When I was first appointed as a lecturer at the University of Ballarat, I saw there was a need," he says.
"People had been overseas, to Asian countries, enjoyed the cuisine and the culture. I wanted to establish something here, to look at more than the cuisine; look at languages and education, not just tokenism. At the time - let's not beat around the bush - racism was open. I have been witness to it.
"But we have come a long way. Today you look at Ballarat, you can eat anywhere, any food. The state government funded the BRMC and we have moved on."
For his work in multiculturalism and with migrants, Dr Sivamalai was awarded the Centenary Medal from the Federal Government. He served two terms as Victorian Multicultural Commissioner and has been on the Ministerial Advisory Council for Responsible Gambling in Victoria.
"Living in Ballarat, I am very fortunate, because I am a great promoter of Ballarat and the rural region, its residents and their needs. You can see my background is very diverse: I am Malaysian-born, studied overseas, and finally here... which will all be in my book!"