Born in Croatia to a Ukrainian father and a Serbian mother, Ukrainian culture and traditions were an integral part of my upbringing. From the age of five I was an active member of the Ukrainian cultural society in my hometown Vukovar and have performed with different singing and dancing groups across the country promoting and showcasing our rich cultural heritage.
In 1991 – due to the Croatian War of Independence – my family and I fled the country and sought refuge in Austria where we lived for a year. During that time I met my now-husband.
In 1992 we all migrated to Australia and settled here in Melbourne. After having completed a few levels of English courses at AMES, I began studying at the Kangan Institute of TAFE where I completed my Associate Diploma in Business – Office Administration.
Shortly after my husband & I moved back to Vienna where we lived and worked for 16 years.
Most of my career has been in international trade working as an Import-Export Clerk. During the time spent in Austria my two daughters were born.
In 2013 our family of 4 relocated back to Melbourne. I have been working for the AUV since 2017 as an administrative support to the Operations Manager. My duties also include setups for various events at the Essendon community hall and assisting with the Senior Citizens Club.
For the last ten years I have been a part of the Ukrainian Ensemble “Rodyna” which often performs at events in our community.
To contact Marjana – reception@auv.org.au