For the joy of dance – Australia Day honours 2022

STRATHFIELDSAYE’S Roma Ivetic has been awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for her service to the community of Castlemaine.

Owner and teacher at the Roma Ivetic School of Dance for 60 years, Mrs Ivetic said the award had made her feel “very humble.”

“It makes you feel very humble to receive such a wonderful thing like that,” she said.

Not knowing who nominated her, Mrs Ivetic said receiving the award came as a shock but is thankful and humbled to receive the honour.

“It was a surprise that I got it and I know I’ve worked in the community over the years, but it makes you quite humble to receive something like that,” she said.

During her time in Castlemaine, Mrs Ivetic was a prominent financial supporter of many organisations including the Castlemaine and Kyneton CFA and the Castlemaine Pipe Band.

The dance teacher said she enjoyed the work she did in the community but teaching kids and holding concerts has an extra special place in her heart.

“I think they all have their own firm standing and I’ve enjoyed every bit of it. That’s what I wanted to do, and I did it for over 60 years,” she said.

“I enjoyed helping the children and dancing gave them confidence to get on in their lives.

“That made me feel very, very happy to see the confidence a lot of those girls got and went ahead and did what they wanted to because felt they could.”

While grateful for the honour, Mrs Ivetic said she’s thankful to be in good health and hopes to have inspired people to give back to their community.

Mrs Ivetic is also a supporter of the Alexander Home for the Aged and volunteers at the Castlemaine Pioneers and Old Residents Association.