Judoline Kaka

Te Atihaununui Apaparangi, Nga Puhi, Ngati Porou

Judoline was born in Taumarunui in 1965 and arrived in Melbourne in 1983.

She began a 24 year career in the electronics/manufacturing industry with a large manufacturing telecommunications company in Melbourne, progressing to the role of assembly operator within her first year of employment.  She then travelled around  Australia for three years, completing a short stint installing mobile telephone sites in Taiwan.

Judoline is an active volunteer member of the SES (State Emergency Services).  She finds this role of giving back to the community  immensely rewarding.  She has acquired valuable skills that she utilises throughout her life and has met some outstanding people throughout the emergency services (Police, Ambulance, CFA, SES, etc).   “Although the emergency services are all entities in their own right, it is an awesome atmosphere to be involved in when they are called upon to come together.”  Judoline feels that it reminds her a lot of marae life, but on a massive scale encompassing the wider community.

Although Judoline has many interests and hobbies she is passionate about her role in the SES and likens it to her role on the MaraeMelbourne committee.  Both roles are not all fun and games or for the faint hearted!  Hard work, sweat and dedication is required as well as a certain degree of physical fitness and the ability to work in a team environment!  The rewards are truly unlimited.

Her future goals include building community trust amongst our Maori and the wider community and the building of a NZ cultural centre (Marae) in Victoria to provide services to established and newcomers of NZ and Pacific Island descent including education in health issues, mentoring and counselling youth, mental health, drug and addiction education, addressing integration and displacement of our elderly, safe housing for families, child protection services, cultural integration and keeping cultural traditions and languages alive.