Anna Rogalina

Anna Rogalina is a woman with great courage and determination. Born in the Ukraine, she came to Australia in 1992 with her husband and her daughter Natalie. To come to Australia, Anna left her identical twin sister who now resides in Germany. Anna is still very close to her sister.

Anna and her family originally lived in private rental in St Kilda on the third floor of a building with no lift. When Anna’s husband died of cancer, a social worker helped with her housing application, and Anna and Natalie (who was thirteen years of age) moved to Park Towers on 17 January 1993.

Natalie attended Albert Park Secondary College and then completed double degrees in international business and law at the University of Queensland. Natalie now practises law in Queensland.

In the Ukraine, Anna taught in primary and secondary schools, specialising in art and craft, but university in Australia was a new challenge for Anna too. She received her Diploma in Community Education at Monash University in 1997.

Anna speaks and writes three languages, and this skill is an invaluable resource to other tenants at Park Towers. She gives her time with the Tenants’ Association to the Russian tenants and also conducts a weekly computer class.

Anna is secretary of the Russian Society of Melbourne, a member of the Women’s International Writing Society, and a member of the Russian Women’s Choir (Young at Heart) who perform at many events that are held  at Park Towers.

When asked what she likes about living at Park Towers, Anna said

‘I like being close to people. The towers are like a big family with good and bad. I like to be happy and being around other people gives me pleasure. I’m very much a people person, so I like to help others in many ways by using my education, knowledge  and experience. It’s my cup of tea.’