“It’s really nice recognition to know that someone appreciates me.” That was the sentiment of Meadow Heights resident Aysegul Koksuz when she learnt she would receive an Australia Day honour.
The 71-year-old was awarded a medal of the Order of Australia on January 26 in recognition of her service to the Turkish community of Victoria through volunteer roles.
Ms Koksuz began volunteering after she was retrenched in 1995.
While working out her next paid role would be, she began volunteering with community groups including Northern (Meadow Heights) Turkish Women’s Association and Orana Family Services.
A brief stint working as a hairdresser following a 12-month course in hairdressing and beauty services, led her to realise that her passion was helping others.
“I love working with people,” she said.
“I realised hairdressing wasn’t my type of work. My interest was in caring for people and working in community development.”
Ms Koksuz, who then worked as a carer while continuing to volunteer, completed a certificate in leadership and community development, which she credits with helping her thrive in her volunteer roles.
In addition to her work with Northern (Meadow Heights) Turkish Women’s Association and Orana Family Services, she has volunteered her time at Northern (Meadow Heights) Turkish Families Association, DPV Health, the Hume Interfaith Network and Turkish Young Mothers Association.
She was inducted into the Victorian Honour Roll of Women in 2006 and named a Hume resident of the month in 2018.
“It is very important for me to help disadvantaged people in the community – not just the Turkish community, but bit in the northern suburbs in general as they are all low socio-economic,” she said.
“I really enjoy helping people.”
Ms Koksuz came to Australia with her parents in 1966 and lived in Kew. She moved to the northern suburbs after she got married because they “couldn’t afford to buy a house in Kew”.
She said the story of how she came to live in the north is important to her. The young newlyweds originally lived in Dallas before moving to Meadow Heights.
She said her volunteer roles across the northern suburbs had given her a chance to interact with and learn from people from many different walks of life.
“I’ve gained a lot of knowledge through my volunteer work,” she said.
