Diversity Test |

Mayor Tanya Taylor
Australian born Mayor Tanya Taylor tells the story of her English, Scottish, Danish and Italian ancestry which includes Captain Ball of the ship HMS Supply of the First Fleet. She
describes her life’s story leading to her role as the Mayor of Willoughby and her appreciation
of the vibrant and diverse city of Willoughby.

Mayor Tanya Taylor
Australian born Mayor Tanya Taylor tells the story of her English, Scottish, Danish and Italian
ancestry which includes Captain Ball of the ship HMS Supply of the First Fleet. She
describes her life’s story leading to her role as the Mayor of Willoughby and her appreciation
of the vibrant and diverse city of Willoughby.

Andrea Nevill
Koori Radio host and ambassador for Human Rights Andrea Nevill tells the story of her
mixed ancestry including her aboriginal clans of Bardi and Jawi, with Filipino, Malaysian and
possibly Spanish on her mother’s side and Australian, New Zealand, Irish and English on
her father’s side of her family.

Pam Clifford
Author of the book ‘Northbridge: building a new suburb’ Pam Clifford tells the story of her
English and Irish ancestry and her recent discovery of aboriginal ancestry through Diana, a
woman of the Wiradjuri tribe.

John Vaughan OAM
Local activist, historian and vexillographer John Vaughan, tells of his Anglo-Celtic ancestry
and his family’s local history having lived in Willoughby his entire life.

Paul Storm
Whilst being born in Ireland, Paul Storm tells of his Austrian, German and Jewish heritage
and his parents leaving Austria in 1939 prior to the outbreak of World War II. He describes
his migration to Australia in 1948 as a 5-year-old and his abiding love and appreciation for
the history and heritage of Willoughby where he grew up and continues to live.

Don Swonnell
Australian country born bush poet and bushland regenerator Don Swonnell describes his
Scandinavian ancestry including Viking origins as well as his Scottish and English roots. His
involvement in Flat Rock Gully’s restoration and his development of Bush Poetry at the
Henry Lawson Cave are highlights of his local community involvement.

Marianna La Grassa
Marianna La Grassa describes her Sicilian origins and her coming to Australia as a teenage
refugee with her parents, to make a new life in Willoughby following the 1968 earthquake
that destroyed their family home. Marianna has kept connected to her heritage through
leadership of the Italian Social Group for the past 30 years.

Anna Greco
Of Italian heritage Anna Greco tells the story of her upbringing in an Australian Italian family
in Willoughby and the challenges of language and culture in family and community life as a
second generation Australian.

Ara Megerditchian

Willoughby born Ara Megerditchian tells of the survival of his Armenian grandparents
following the Armenian Genocide in World War I and the importance of retaining his culture,
heritage, language and religion whilst living in harmony in the Willoughby Community.

Sophia Huang
Raised in Taiwan of Chinese parents Sophia Huang tells of her journey to Australia via New
Zealand and the changes she has experienced in Chatswood since her arrival in 1979.

Seiko Iwaizumi
Japanese Seiko Iwaizumi shares her family story including her Samurai ancestry and her
father’s narrow escape as a trained Kamikaze pilot in World War II. Seiko is very proud of
her Japanese heritage and celebrates traditional Japanese festivals here in Sydney with her
Chinese husband and her son.

John Noh
John Noh tells of his life in South Korea and his business venture in Japan prior to arriving in
Australia with his family on a business visa in 1992. He describes his ability to connect with
people from different language and cultural backgrounds due to his speaking 4 languages.

Wendy Liu
Naturalized Australian Wendy Liu describes her life in China prior to coming to Australia on a
spousal visa in 1993 with her husband and son, and the challenges faced as highly skilled
migrants settling in Willoughby. Having lived in Australia as long as she did in China, Wendy
celebrates both Chinese and Western cultural festivals.

Olya Roohizadegan
Olya Roohizadegan describes her Iranian Bahai cultural background and her escape from
persecution in Iran to Pakistan before being accepted as a refugee in England prior to
migrating to Australia in 1999. Moving to Chatswood in 2007 she maintains her cultural ties
in the local Iranian and Bahai communities.

Fan Zhang
Local businessman Fan Zhang describes his Han Chinese origins and his family’s entry into
Australia on a business visa in 2007, finally settling in Chatswood in 2021. Fan continues
links to his culture through practicing Tai Chi and through his wife’s involvement in Traditional
Chinese Folk Dance.

Ritu Kicha-Mirakhur and Sheila Patel
Of a Hindu religious and cultural background, Ritu and Sheila both arrived in Australia in
January 2018 and came straight to Willoughby. Ritu from India and Sheila from Malaysia
describe the importance of their cultural traditions and practices which are passed down the
generations. They stay connected to their cultural heritage through organizing and
participating in Hindu cultural festivals in Willoughby and appreciate Willoughby’s cultural
diversity and strong sense of community.

Dr Smiley Wang
Of Han Chinese origins, Smiley Wang describes his educational and career background in
the UK, China, and Thailand and his work in the not-for-profit sector in child development

and protection, and disability and rehabilitation. Smiley hopes to migrate with his wife to
Willoughby to be close to family and enjoys both Chinese and Western culture having taught
Mandarin to English speakers at Willoughby’s Mosaic Multicultural Centre.

Lucia Casali
Born in Italy and raised in South Africa from the age of 9 years old, Lucia Casali describes
her life in South Africa and her migration to Australia in 2019. Lucia enjoys her social links
with the local Italian community in Willoughby and enjoys teaching Italian language at the
Mosaic Multicultural Centre.

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