I was born December 1949 in Wagga Wagga at one minute to midnight.
After my fathers contract finished, we moved to Melbourne. My parents built in Thomastown were I went to State School then onto Merrilands High School.
I got married in 1992 had 2 beautiful children. I worked in various part time jobs while the children went to school. While the children were in High School, I worked for a Credit Union as a Teller and worked up to Branch Manager for 15 years. After 15 years of banking I went to work for an Accounting Company for 14 years until my retirement.
I grew up in the Ukrainian community. The “Domivka” (the Essendon Ukrainian Hall) was the local place that everybody attended for all social outings. I was in Plast scouts for many years and have re-joined with the Chervoni Marky.
I lost touch with the Ukrainian Community while I was working and looking after my children.
Retirement was hard after working for so long and wondering what I was going to do with myself. It’s at that time I heard that they were looking for volunteers to start archiving all the history from when our Parents came to Australia.
It’s taken 3 years of sorting all the memories and history of the Ukrainian Community in Victoria. From there I became more and more involved and decided to put myself up for a position as a Director with the Association of Ukrainians in Victoria.
My motivation is to see the younger generation of Ukrainian youth get involved with events in the Domivka. I would also like to thank all the parents that put so much time, money and work into having a place for all the Ukrainian Community. My wish is to see the Domivka (Ukrainian Hall) to be re-furbished and bring it back to life in honour of all our Parents that worked so hard to have a place where we can all come together and stand together as Ukrainians.
Valentina (Valia) Wasil (Kolody)
Mobile: 0409 931 448