BY ESTHER NURIA
SOLOMON Women Newspaper this week has captured a young and aspiring young lady. She is a young Solomon Islander living in Australia who is part Choiseul and Western province. The paper has managed to catch up with her through Facebook.
Solomon Women Newspaper (SWN): Tell us more about yourself.
Alama Gamatia (AG): I’m 21 years of age and currently working in Range Pharmacy doing technician dispensary. I moved to Australia when I was 8 years old and I enjoy keeping fit and hanging out with friends.
SWN: What brings you to Australia?
AG: I moved to Australia because my mother had a job offer to work in Australia so she decided to start new and fresh with all of us getting a good education here in Australia. So basically because of opportunities into a better future.
SWN: How long you been living in Australia?
AG: I have been living in Australia for 14 years
SWN: What do you do for living (work)?
AG: I work at Range Pharmacy in Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia. Doing technician dispensary behind and at the front shop as well.
SWN: Why do you choose, doing what you’re doing?
AG: I chose to work at the pharmacy because I found interest in helping customers with medications and also helping people with their health and diet in keeping a healthy lifestyle. This has become a bug interest in my life and I want to do more study on becoming a nutritionist in the future.
SWN: Is your work interesting?
AG: My work is very interesting because I get to Experience working with new people every day and I love working with people who help me understand more on my job. Having feed backs from customers also make my job interesting and give me the satisfaction and make me keep going.
SWN: Have you find challenges with your work?
AG: I have found it hard when I first started working in the pharmacy because everything was new and unfamiliar to me but once I have asked questions over and over and made mistakes over and over again it helped me understand what the job is really about. 8. How do you feel working overseas? Working overseas is the best thing for me because here in Australia everyone has a right to speak out and be treated fairly. Working overseas has given me the opportunity to meet new people every day and communicate with different cultural backgrounds.
SWN: How would you compare working in Australia compared back to Solomon Islands?
AG: Working in Australia is much better than in the Solomon because here there’s more opportunities to move forward and get paid fairly also treated fairly when it comes to speaking out when something goes wrong (money wise). In my understanding here in Australia we must work and abide with the law restriction that has been applied whereas in Solomon I believe there are not much job opportunities due to government.
SWN: Do you ever miss your home country (Solomon Islands)?
AG: I always miss my country Solomon Islands. There’s always times I sit and wonder when will be my next trip home. There’s always a saying no matter where you are home is where the heart is.
SWN: What will be your advice to young girls and women back in the country?
AG: My advice to young girls in this generation is to work hard towards your dreams, make mistakes and learn from it don’t be afraid to fight for what you want and speak out because if you don’t seek strive and learn you won’t go far. Never give up on what you want for your future.
SWN: Any finale comments you wish to share with our readers?
AG: My final comments to readers, is that dreams do come true. Personally I have worked so hard to get to where I am now and I thank my parents for believing in me and supporting me through all my decisions. I’m currently living by myself so I now understand what my parents go through for us. So never give up, persevere and who knows someday your dreams may come true just like mine.
