Volunteer tutor and Argentinian migrant Beatriz Castillo won the educator of the year award at an Australia Day ceremony last month. She talks with Ben Cameron.
You first came to Australia in 1991, moving to Hillside via Surrey Hills and Donvale in 2000. Why Australia?
For a better life. The situation in Argentina is always up and down. My daughter, Marisa, was 15 years old, and it was a great moment to move to another country. She’s now 39, an engineer. My husband Juan is a chemical engineer.
Marisa has a son, he’s 10; he was born on my birthday, so we celebrate our birthdays together. He writes and speaks Spanish.
You studied conversational English at Sydenham Neighbourhood House in 2000 – what was the reason behind that?
My problem was with Australian slang. Then my daughter brought it home and I didn’t understand it. It (the course) was exactly what I wanted. I had wonderful teachers there; it was perfect.
Then you returned as a tutor?
I became a volunteer in 2010 at the centre, with cooking classes, then calligraphy and Spanish classes. I learnt to cook in Argentina; I did French cooking. I thought it was a good idea (to teach). I started with cookies for Easter, for all occasions. I was a teacher in Argentina for 30 years. The last few years I’ve also been part of the Sydenham Neighbourhood House advisory committee.
I hear your classes are very popular.
I have many friends – my students live around me – we have a great time together. Many times they come in for a cuppa. I don’t charge for Spanish classes for some of my friends at my home. My life is very busy. Five years as a volunteer in Sydenham, I feel so, so good.
The centre says you’re a “positive role model and a very enthusiastic teacher who loves being a part of our local community”.
I’m trying to do the best with my friends and the community. I’m very happy. I am very proud of everything that has happened in my life here in Australia.
What else do you like doing in Brimbank?
I ride my tricycle around because I love the neighbourhood … many green parks and trees – and the flowers, I love to see the colours of the flowers. When I was in Argentina, I was a long way from the sea; we lived very close to mountains. We had to cross to Chile to get to the sea. But here, my god, the sea is so close. I had to ride 1400 kilometres to get to the sea (in Argentina).
