With Pako Festa underway, Emma Bottomley speaks to Luke Voogt about her journey from Jakarta to Geelong and her role in the local Indonesian community.
Tell us about you…
I live Torquay and I’ve been in Geelong since 1984. I just turned 46.
I grew up in Jakarta – the population of Australia in a capital city. As soon as you walk out the door you’re confronted with the noise, people, rickshaws, traffic and pollution.
So you can imagine the contrast when we came over when I was nine. I said to mum, “where’s all the people, why are there so many empty spaces?”
Here we’ve got fresh air! I walk outside and see the ocean.
I don’t have a very Indonesian name. In some Indonesian cultures we don’t have a surname. My name, before mum married my stepdad John Bottomley, was Eva Emmalia. That’s where the Emma comes from.
John was working for Anaconda, an American mining company, in Indonesia. Mutual friends invited them to a gathering and they saw each other in crowded room. I think it was meant to be.
I’m juggling a couple of positions at the moment at Sands Resort and The Great Ocean Road Resort in Anglesea. I’m president of the Indonesian Association of Geelong.
How did the association begin?
When we first arrived there wasn’t an association – there weren’t a lot of Indonesians here back then. Initially mum just began a network of people she bumped into.
You can image her excitement overhearing someone speaking Indonesian in a shopping centre or supermarket. Food was always an excuse for gatherings.
We eventually formed the association 2010. It’s a sharing and educational experience for the younger ones that might not have that connection with their culture.
Some of these kids are half Aussie and half Indo, and we want them to embrace that they have the best of both worlds.
I lost someone that I knew working at Deakin University in the 2002 Bali Bombings.
That’s why it’s so important to have these events like Pako Festa. Even with COVID, Pako Festa is going ahead and cultures can get together and celebrate diversity
Our association is also a resource for schools having an Indonesian day or learning Bahasa Indonesia, or even people who just want to visit Indonesia or work there.
What do you like to do locally?
I like to check out the restaurants and cafes around here. They’re relying more than ever on locals, especially with the cancellation of the Rip Curl Pro.
I love to explore the Great Ocean Road. You’ve got the Otways and Lorne, but I’m also trying to find other hidden gems, like waterfalls, to explore.
How have you coped with COVID-19?
Mum’s 69 and dad’s 70, so my first concern was making sure they’re OK and getting them essentials where necessary.
Luckily now we have the technology for me to keep up with family back in Indonesia. Indonesia’s COVID numbers are quite concerning.
What’s something about you that people might not know?
Recently I’ve started golfing and surfing lessons. I’m always looking to try something new. I’m also an Indonesian radio presenter at 94.7 The Pulse.
