Sunshine North resident Kath Curry is the dean of Victoria University’s trades college in Sunshine. The former nurse says it’s rare to see a woman in the trades sector.
Where’s your favourite retreat spot?
I like cycling, so the bike paths along the river near Selwyn Park and the ones in Cranwell Park Reserve are great to use … and the one near the Chinese temple.
Favourite place to get coffee or a bite to eat?
The Granary in Devonshire Road in Sunshine is great because the crew always remember your coffee order even if you haven’t been there for months. I often take international guests of the university to Golden Leaf in Ballarat Road as they have good food.
What would you change in your neighbourhood?
I’d make the roads safer for cyclists and put in more bike paths.
What wouldn’t you change?
Brimbank is close to everything. It’s got schools, public transport and interesting cultural retailers from the Polish deli to the Asian supermarkets, and it’s close to the city. It’s a multicultural area and it’s great to see old immigrants – Maltese and Italian – and new immigrants – Vietnamese and African – bringing our vibrant city together.
What was in Brimbank that’s no longer there?
I grew up in Yarraville, but my family would come to Brimbank to watch my brother play football. I remember going through the old Tottenham gates and the underpass flooding. Now, it’s an overpass.
What’s the university’s connection to the community?
I’m in a teaching and learning role at Victoria University, working with trades teachers, having previously spent 14 years teaching Aboriginal health workers in the Northern Territory. The university’s new $44 million Sunshine Construction Hub is the place for members of the community interested in trades. We run adult migrant programs that can lead to pre-apprenticeships and apprenticeships.
