Asha | Penrose
“My name is Asha. I live in Penrose near One Tree Hill. I’m pretty much a Kiwi, but I’ve been living in Melbourne for the last nine years. I suppose a few years ago my uncle had an accident in his workshop. He had stopped breathing.
I found him, had to call an ambulance and while I was waiting for an ambulance, I had to perform CPR, just to get him to start breathing because he wasn’t breathing at that time, and to clear his airways. Apparently, once he got to Emergency, what I’d performed had helped save his life. So, he’s still alive today.
There was only me and my aunty at the workshop, so I didn’t have a choice, and I pretty much just had to step up and do it. I’m glad I was there to help, and I always believe that you meet people at a place at a certain time for a reason. I suppose I was there at that time to help him.
I was born in Fiji, but I grew up in Auckland. I’ve lived in Auckland since I was seven years old, grew up with my mum and dad and older brother. I grew up a Hindu, but we followed a spiritual faith, with the belief that everything is about family and friends, and being the best person you can, and helping those around you. I’ve been living in Melbourne for the last nine years and have just come back into the country a week ago to spend time with my parents. They’re getting older, and to spend time with my nieces, and some other family here as well has been nice.
You’ve got to be brave sometimes because at the end of the day it can help the people around you. You’ve got to have the courage to step up, and do those things. Sometimes it’s not the easiest thing to do, like that was probably one of the hardest things I’ve had to do. And having to be there for my family, which I’ve been doing the last few years. I’ve just come back to support my family here now, which took a lot of courage to leave my life behind in Melbourne and come here for the next few months.
I’ve come back. My parents are getting older. My mum has been up and down, my brother’s in the South Island. So, there’s only two of us, and I thought it was a good time for me to come and spend some time with them. I’ll see if I can still live in Auckland, or if I’ll be moving back to Melbourne at some point next year. I just want to spend time with her before anything happens.”
