Goya Dmytryshchak
West Footscray’s Greg Ferrington volunteers with the Sikh community, helped develop the Nourish food-security program and manages a community centre. He speaks with Goya Dmytryshchak.
What’s your connection to the city of Maribyrnong?
I have lived in the city of Maribyrnong for over 20 years since moving from Brisbane, and have spent the last 15 years in West Footscray. I have served on the boards of West Footscray Neighbourhood House and Duke Street Community House and have also worked on and off in the disability and drug and alcohol sectors.
What do you like about West Footscray?
I love our proximity to the city and that connection to the Bellarine Peninsula and further afield. West Footscray is a really friendly area and I know all of my neighbours and we support each other through the good times and the tough times. I also love that West Footscray is still not too gentrified and hopefully we can keep that balance moving forward.
What would you change or what could be improved?
I just think there needs to be a realisation from all levels of government and decision makers that just because we’re in the western suburbs it doesn’t mean we will take second best. It frustrates me that the pollution that we are subjected to in the western suburbs would not be tolerated in more affluent suburbs of Melbourne.
What’s your favourite local cafe/restaurant?
My favourite cafe is Dodo Delights just near Tottenham station. The friendly owners, Lee and Rhonda, are always up for a chat and the coffee is fantastic. It’s my ‘go to’ in the mornings on my way to work or if I have to catch the train into the city. The lemon drizzle biscuits are the best.
You helped establish the Nourish program in Maribyrnong in response to COVID. Could you please tell me about that?
Last year during COVID, I saw there was the opportunity for me to replicate the food program I was running at my own centre in Werribee in the Maribyrnong area. With my connections with community centres in the city of Maribyrnong I was able to get a core group together for what would become the Nourish program. This program is now funded by state government and has a project worker who oversees the distribution of cooked meals to community centres across Maribyrnong.
Can you tell me about your volunteering with United Sikhs?
I first started working with the Sikhs in January last year in Bairnsdale during the fires. I saw their community spirit and how they are there for all of the community in times of need. When I returned from Bairnsdale, COVID hit and there was a clear opportunity for me to build a partnership with them to create a food program at the community centre that I manage in Werribee. This food program has now been going on for over a year and we operate as a community store model where people choose their food items. Whenever there’s a problem in the community I always use the catch cry #SeekaSikh.
Can you tell me about your work with community centres?
I have been working in the city of Wyndham for over six years managing community centres in Manor Lakes, Tarneit and, now, Wyndham Park Community Centre in Werribee. I find that the sense of community is very strong and they are very supportive of each other. I have a great team of staff that work alongside me. We have nine staff and most of them live locally and therefore they understand the community they work with. We run a very successful food program called Birdcage Community Store where we provide food to families in need through a ‘store’ model. I think once I retire I will continue to volunteer in the community centre sector as I love seeing people grow with the opportunities they given. I believe that we should always work with what is strong not what is wrong in a community.
