General News
29 September, 2022
Residents reflect on journey to Maryborough
Maryborough will start to welcome new residents next month, as skilled migrants arrive as part of the Welcome to Central Goldfields project — something local migrants believe will be a boost to the community and businesses. The Welcome to Central...
Maryborough will start to welcome new residents next month, as skilled migrants arrive as part of the Welcome to Central Goldfields project — something local migrants believe will be a boost to the community and businesses.
The Welcome to Central Goldfields project is in response to staff and skills shortages affecting local businesses and will see migrants move to Maryborough to fill these roles, with their progress to be filmed and documented.
It’s hoped the pilot program will support local businesses and add diversity to the community, as well as providing a platform for advocacy at all levels of government on workforce and housing needs.
It’s not an idea that’s new to the area, with businesses looking outside the shire for staff to fill positions in the past — including in the case of Priceline Pharmacy Maryborough’s owner Taren Gill who moved to Maryborough in 2017 to work as a pharmacist.
“When a job opportunity came up at Priceline here in Maryborough I decided to go for it,” she said.
“I lived in Orange in New South Wales prior to moving to Maryborough — it was a regional town but had a population of 40,000, which is massive compared to Maryborough so it was a change.
“I’d met Bronwen and Peter Haywood (former Priceline owners) years earlier at conferences and when we first relocated to Maryborough we were able to stay with them which was a great support.”
Taren said her experience of relocating to Maryborough was a positive one, but felt she had to put herself out there to get the most from the community.
“My family and I also look different — we’re Sikh’s and my husband and son wear a turban, but Maryborough has been very welcoming,” she said.
“Living with Bronwen and Peter, what they did really well was include us in community events which was a great way to meet people.
“It was also helpful for me having young children because I could meet other parents.
“I think Maryborough is really welcoming, if you’re willing to get out there and give things a go, you’re going to meet likeminded people.”
It’s an experience that’s been shared by fellow pharmacist Elisa Luu, who in 2020 was stranded in Australia as borders closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Originally from Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, Elisa came to Australia for a holiday and was just 10 days in before borders were closed and she began looking for work and applying for a visa.
“I had a plan to migrate to Australia but I thought I would once I had a working visa. Through travelling and lockdown, I ended up stranded here,” she said.
“I saw a job advertised at Priceline in Maryborough, I applied for a working visa and started a new life here in Maryborough.
“I’ve met a lot of amazing people around town and my neighbours are great, they’ve exposed me to social activities in the community which is good.”
Both Taren and Elisa form part of the Community Reference Group involved in the Welcome to Central Goldfields Project and Taren said her and Elisa’s success stories can be repeated for the incoming migrants, if the community are open to them.
“There are pockets of society that are not going to respond appropriately to people who look like myself and Elisa, people who don’t value our contribution to society for whatever reason,” she said.
“The people who are moving to the area are people taking a risk for work, like Elisa and I took a risk.
“I think it’s important for people to understand having an accent doesn’t man that your knowledge is reduced — in fact it often means you know something in two languages.”
Taren said the project will not only benefit businesses which may have struggled to attract staff, but will also add value to the diversity of the community.
“I think diversity is going to bring lots of great food to town and events and festivals — I believe there can only be positives that come out of this,” she said.
For more information on Welcome to Central Goldfields, visit www.engage.cgoldshire.vic.gov.au/welcometocentralgoldfields