Town Talk | Seema’s story: community, career and change

Same place.

Same time.

At our first meeting, we had discussed her life from Islamabad to Melbourne; however, time was our enemy, and there was much more to Seema’s story.

Melbourne

The Abdullah family travelled from Kuala Lumpur and had been welcomed to Australia by three ladies and their families, whom they had never met, in 2004.

They were daughters and family of one of Seema’s husband Muhammad’s Malaysian Chinese patients in Malaysia.

It was a kind and warm gesture, which Seema remembers with gratitude.

With their two small children, they settled into life in Melbourne with some ease.

Muhammad was working at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre.

It took Seema a few months to settle children in schools, find a suitable rental property, get her Australian driving licence and land her first job in Australia.

Busy times! Seema was enjoying her Melbourne lifestyle, with its many parks and open spaces; it reminded her of Islamabad.

Muhammad worked hard to get an Australian surgical fellowship (yes, he needed to get one, despite having two fellowships from England and Scotland).

Their son Umair had started school, and daughter Sabaina was in kindergarten.

Shepparton

Then, in 2008, Muhammad was offered a position at a private practice in Shepparton, and at Goulburn Valley Health.

What to do? By that time, Seema was enjoying satisfying employment at IBM, despite balancing a demanding job with being a mother and a supportive wife.

They decided that he would move to Shepparton, and Seema would remain in Melbourne with the children.

They took turns travelling to Shepp and Melbourne each weekend, but, quite frankly, they found being apart far from ideal and were looking to bringing their family back together.

The arrangement lasted for 12 months before Seema and the children moved to Shepparton to join Muhammad.

She continued with her work at IBM but now, she was travelling to Melbourne once a week.

Enough! She resigned from IBM and decided to take a year off work.

She wanted to get settled, to get to know our city and its people.

What did she love about Shepparton? “All of it,” she said. “Particularly the river.”

This led to a conversation about our river.

Our first builders and businessmen didn’t value the river, at all.

They originally constructed their businesses and homes in Welsford St, to be near the punt — but it flooded, didn’t it? The river was just a nuisance, and many relocated to Wyndham St.

They turned their backs on the Goulburn. Absolutely no-one would have been thinking of tourism in the 21st century.

However, in this day and age, we are all aware of the missed opportunities. And Seema was seeing it with ‘fresh eyes’.

In 2010, Melbourne University offered her a position as project manager for Health Informatics.

There were trips to Melbourne involved, but she was locally based and enjoyed the work and the workplace.

She resigned in 2014 for a combination of reasons.

However, her chief focus was her son’s VCE.

For Seema and Muhammad, the education of their children was of primary importance.

They realised that the VCE was vital for Umair, and they had never experienced it themselves.

She wanted to be there in case her son needed guidance or assistance.

Community Leadership Program

Around the same time she noticed, in the newspaper, that Greater Shepparton City Council was asking for ‘expressions of interest’ in a pilot Community Leadership Program.

This was just what she needed, and it was a game changer.

There are two sides to Seema Abdullah.

There is the professional with her MBA and second major in the management of information systems — smart and ambitious.

And there is the wife and mother — caring a great deal about the community, its social and economic issues, and its lifestyle.

She is warm, caring and concerned for others.

The Community Leadership Program offered fortnightly workshops and a real opportunity to become involved in our city.

She began to understand the mainstream community matters, and also noticed negativity among the community.

This was 2014.

As part of the leadership program, Seema managed a youth project to bring street art into the city.

It was called SHEPP-Y-START (Shepparton Youth Street Art).

During this time, Jan Phillips of Mooroopna Education and Activity Centre was her mentor on the leadership program.

Star Bowl manager Melissa Thompson approved the use of a large blank wall.

The young people of Shepp could ‘go for their lives’ here — and create whatever they imagined.

Seema remains grateful for Melissa’s willing co-operation.

Renowned artist Tank assisted several young would-be artists attending the event.

They used spray paint to create a street art wall in a fun event — and a very satisfying time was had.

Women’s Charter Advisory Committee

Seema then joined this ‘advisory to the council’ committee on Jan Phillips’ recommendation.

It focused on gender equality, diversity and active citizenship for the women of Greater Shepparton.

Here, she met some interesting, inspiring and active women — such as Pat Moran and Fran Smullen.

This was 2015.

She was, once again, in the motherhood/community role.

She was an active volunteer and was aware that community negativity remained a factor.

In 2016, she stood for council.

This decision was due, to a large extent, to the confidence and support of her husband, her children and her good friend Terri Cowley.

She was elected.

It is an interesting fact that three women led the voting that year: Kim O’Keeffe, Fern Summer and Seema.

Greater Shepparton City Council

In Seema’s first council term, 2016 to 2020, there were a couple of important and difficult decisions to be made.

The Maude St Mall and what to do with it — and whether or not they should proceed with the Shepparton Art Museum, despite intense community backlash and revised costs.

I remember this time clearly.

The businesses located in the mall appeared to be negative about the whole discussion — some said that, whatever the council decided, it wouldn’t work.

In my opinion, they were wrong.

Yes! I’m being wise after the event, but it seems to be working well.

There was also strong opposition to SAM — and there are many disappointed in it right now.

I understand their complaints — but there is a clear and satisfying path possible with vision and courage.

These are my words — not Seema’s.

In 2017, Seema was deputy mayor to Kim O’Keeffe, and in 2019, she was elected to the mayoral role.

An attractive, community-minded young woman from Islamabad was the mayor of our city! Certainly, a first!

However, this was a difficult time — the city was in lockdown for most of 2020.

She was the mayor in the first wave of COVID-19.

Nobody knew much about the pandemic, or what it would hold for us all.

The first wave of COVID was a busy and — I can only imagine — stressful period.

Serving as council’s spokesperson, Seema delivered clear and consistent updates while dealing with media requests.

It was necessary to collaborate with local MPs, ministers, regional councils and community organisations.

Of course, she also had to prioritise public safety and ensure vital support for businesses and vulnerable groups.

She announced the council’s critical COVID support packages.

Seema also facilitated the council’s transition to online meetings.

It all sounded so easy, as she spoke about it.

I’m sure it wasn’t — but it was proactive and calm leadership, which reassured many of us.

Then in 2020, Seema was re-elected to the council, stepping into a second term that was a whole new ballgame.

The mix of personalities, the diversity of ideologies and the clashing aspirations among fellow councillors brought both excitement and complexity to the decision-making table.

Add to that the behind-the-scenes politics and shifting dynamics; Seema said she found herself navigating a roller-coaster of challenges and triumphs (and some heartaches, too).

But for her, it was all part of the journey — the good, the bad and even the ugly — shaping an experience she wouldn’t trade for anything. “No regrets,” she says with conviction.

She agrees with me that, in general terms, Shepparton in 2024 is a happier place.

And she is ready to get back to her career.

She doesn’t mind if her next job is full- or part-time; she doesn’t mind if it is a private or public organisation.

She is probably the most employable person I have met in a long time.

Muhammad remains content with his position; Umair is a qualified doctor, currently working in Ballarat.

He recently married Ayma, the daughter of a long-time family friend and one of Sabaina’s close childhood friends.

Sabaina has recently graduated, with a double degree in law and arts.

With a happy family and Shepparton itself more settled and content, Seema is ready for work.

Leadership

Towards the end of our conversation, I asked Seema what she considered to be the qualities of a good leader.

Her answer was “Authenticity. Empathy. Courage. What you say is what you do.”

As I look at my notetaking, I see that underneath, in capital letters, I have written “ACTION”.

I have been a strong supporter of our council, particularly in the past two years.

I keep meeting people who are pleased with what has been happening.

However, I have been very disappointed with the lack of action regarding affordable housing.

This is our city’s biggest problem, a very human one — and there are several suitable car parks that could be used.

Yes! There will be objections to every one of them — a ‘not in my backyard’, fear-fuelled response.

However, with authenticity, empathy and courage, I hope and pray our new council will take action.

I shared these thoughts with Seema, and I could see she agreed with my diatribe.

However, she is incredibly loyal and professional — and she said very little.

I thank Seema for her time and for her service to Shepparton, and wish the Abdullah family ongoing happiness — and every possible success.

May it be easy, my friends.

Marnie

Email: towntalk@sheppnews.com.au

Letter: Town Talk. The News. P.O. Box 204. Shepparton 3631.

Phone: Text or call 0409 317 187