Inarrabri

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Feature
20 | iNarrabri Magazine | June 2016
From where and when did
you arrive in Australia?
We are from South Indian
State of Tamil Nadu, India.
Gunasekhar (Guna) arrived
in Australia in late 2004 to
start his PhD. I came here in
early-2008.
You have lived in a few
places in Australia since
Gunasekhar gained his PhD.
Where else have you worked
and how did you find life
there?
After Guna’s PhD., we both
started our first jobs in
Australia in rural Victoria in
the west Wimmera region in
June 2008. Guna was manag-
ing the greenhouse organic
vegetable production and I
was assisting him. Life there
was very busy, although a bit
isolated.
We moved to Bundaberg in
September 2010, where Guna
started his work with the
Queensland Department of
Agriculture and Fisheries. I
was working as a medical
typist in Bundaberg radiology.
We loved Bundaberg and
especially the climate.
Before moving to Narrabri,
we were in Adelaide for a
short time where Guna started
working at the University of
Adelaide as Research Fellow.
Guna is now working with the
NSW DPI (Australian Cotton
Research Institute) as a soil
scientist. I am working from
home as a medical typist
during school hours.
What brought you and your
family to Narrabri?
We wanted to settle in one
place as Guhan was near his
school age. When we were
in Adelaide, Guna got an
ongoing job opportunity with
NSW DPI (Australian Cotton
Research Institute) so we
decided to move to Narrabri.
How does this community
differ from where you came
and what are the similarities?
We both are from farming
families and lived in rural part
of India. We started liking
Narrabri straight away. We
like the calm and quiet
atmosphere of the rural
lifestyle.
What has been the biggest
challenge to you coming
from India and how have you
managed?
Leaving our family is the
biggest challenge for us. We
miss them and also our family
functions and festivals. We try
to visit them at least once a
year which is good for Guhan
as well so that he will be
familiar with both cultures.
What does the future hold
for your work, Gunasekhar?
I work on soils. Managing soil
resources is critical for the
sustainability of any cropping
industry. There is always an
emerging soil issue that needs
investigation to sustain or
improve crop production. I
look forward to the challenge.
How would you describe
Narrabri to your family and
friends back home?
Narrabri is a friendly little
town and a very lovely place
to live. People in the work-
place and the town are very
welcoming and we are slowly
making some good friends.
Also, most importantly, our
son Guhan likes his school!
Lastly- what’s your favourite
Indian meal and what
Australian meals do you
like?
We mostly eat curry with rice
or chapati- but we also don’t
mind an Australian barbeque
and occasional fish and chips!
PHOTO: chris Jollow
Meet Gunasekhar and Malarvizhi from India
Each month iNarrabri Magazine will be featuring local community members that have migrated
to Australia and chosen our great town to call home. This issue’s interview is with Malarvizhi...
inarrabri
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Photography by Annie Mae Herring (UK)