Management Committee (2010-2012)
Sabdamala Academic Staff
Volunteers and Supporters
Management Committee (2010-2012)
Rajan Chhetri (President)
Rajan Chhetri is a scientist by education. He has a bachelor’s degree and a post graduate diploma in Physics and is currently pursuing a doctorate in “Astrophysics and Cosmology” from the University of New South Wales and CSIRO Astronomy and Space Science (CASS). His work takes him into adventures transcending space and time and he spends his free time in active pursuits of mental and physical adventures. He would personally be happy if he could impress Sabdamala children to accept and embrace perspectives different from what is accepted as normal.
Neelam Pradhananga (Vice-President)
Neelam Pradhananga is a Doctor of Philosophy (Architecture) candidate at the University of Newcastle. Although born in Manchester, she largely spent her childhood years in Bhaktapur, Nepal. Undertaking her Bachelor of Architecture in Bhaktapur after high school studies in Queensland enabled her to obtain an in-depth understanding of the diversity and richness of our Nepali heritage. This prompted her to undertake work for UNESCO Kathmandu where she was involved in the development of the Kathmandu Valley World Heritage Site Integrated Management Plan and the Kathmandu Valley World Heritage Site Awareness Raising Campaign. Since then, her interests have expanded from heritage conservation to community participation, indigenous systems and social sustainability issues. She embraces volunteer work and has been actively involved in various volunteer-driven organizations such as Service Civil International Nepal and International Volunteers for Peace (IVP), Australia. She is currently involved with Help Nepal Network (HeNN) and is the President of Guthi Australia (GA).
Bindya Subba (Secretary)
Bindya Subba has been active in the Nepalese Community for over 10 years, primarily through the GNC. She was one of the key members involved in the Nepalese Children’s Activity Group in 2004. Having arrived in Australia as an international student in 1995, she completed a Bachelor in Business from Monash University and has worked in the administration of educational institutions since 1997. The importance of her Nepalese identity and the future development of the Nepalese community in Australia is a strong motivator for Bindya to continue her work. She is married to Pabi and has a 3 year old son Nawasin.
Samindra Shrestha (Financial Officer; Apr 11 – Present )
Samindra Shrestha is a Civil Engineer by profession. He obtained his bachelor degree from Tribhuvan University in Nepal. He undertook a post graduate short course in civil and structural engineering from the University of New South Wales and the Sydney Institute of Technology. Samindra has more than 15 years of professional experience in engineering industries in Nepal and Australia. He is currently employed as a Project Engineer in the Bridge Engineering section of the Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) of NSW government and looks after public road bridges in New South Wales such as the Sydney Harbor Bridge and the Anzac Bridge. Samindra is a true believer that socializing with the community on a regular basis will bring health and harmony in people’s life. Sabdamala is one of those places where he is able to socialize with people from different spectrums and is at the same time supporting the promotion and preservation of Nepalese culture and identity. Samindra is also a parent and is actively involved in week to week operations at the Granville Public School.
Gitendra Pradhananga (Financial Officer; Start – Apr 11)
Gitendra Pradhananga was the financial officer for Sabdamala Nepalese Language School till the April 2011. He has a degree in Civil Engineering from the University of New South Wales and enjoys voluntary community work in his spare time. Gitendra has had the opportunity to grow up in both Nepal and Australia and has an appreciation of the differences in culture, languages and ways of life. He feels it is important to not forget one’s cultural heritage, history and identity and acknowledging and embracing these are necessary to appreciate those of others and to progress as a society.
Sanu Gurung (Executive Member)
Sanu Gurung came to Australia in 1991 as a Business Management student. After graduating, she worked as an administration clerk at Harvey Norman and then went on to work in accounting at the Commonwealth Bank, Head Office. Sanu also worked as a counsellor at the Australian Scholarship Group (ASG), where she helped parents for their children’s education scholarship program and has completed a Diploma in Children’s Services. At presently, Sanu lives in Panania with her husband and 3 children and operates a housing development business, Yeti Homes Ptd Ltd. with her husband.
Paru Pandey (Parents’ Representative – Date she joined to Sep 11)
Bina Gurung ( Public Officer; Apr 11 – Current / Executive Member; Nov 10 – Apr 11)
She is the eldest child born to a family of British Gurkhas of Ghandruke descent in Pokhara, Nepal. Her upbringing has been typical of any lahure’s child, jet setting between Nepal, Hong Kong, Brunei and United Kingdom. She left Nepal again after completing SLC from St Mary’s School Pokhara to attend St George School in Hong Kong for the A levels. After a year of soul searching, she went to study Bachelors Degree in Biology in the USA. There, in the competitive environment of Creighton University, she would learn the art of being a student. She went on to complete her Master’s degree in Clinical Anatomy and worked as an anatomy teacher to medical students and groups of brilliant eighth graders through a grant from the Howard Hughes Institute. Her teaching stint also included briefly teaching Native American children in a reservation camp in South Dakota about drugs and their effect on the nervous system. It was while working as a research assistant in Omaha, Nebraska she was invited to attend the Sydney University Medical School interview in New York City. The following year in February 2004, she arrived in Sydney to study medicine. The medical electives scholarship would take her on another trip to New York City, at the prestigious Columbia University before graduating in 2007. She is currently working as a junior registrar. Her aim is to sub specialize in urology. She is recently married to a wonderful young man. Her interests include travelling, learning about cultures, reading and philanthropy. She is currently involved as an executive member of Sabdamala Nepalese Language School; her past affiliations include member of the American Red Cross, Alpha Phi Omega – service fraternity, Secretary of Australian Medical Students Association’s Developing World Chapter and an advisor for Xenomed, a medical forum based in Kathmandu Nepal.
Bona Rai (Public Officer; Start – Apr 11)
Bona Rai arrived in Sydney as a 9 year old and has been actively involved in the Nepalese community ever since. Bona graduated as a scholarship student from the University of Technology with a Bachelor of Accounting degree and now works for Westpac Banking Corporation. She has recently completed the Chartered Accountants Program and dreams of pursuing Law in the future. Having grown up in Hong Kong, Nepal, India and Australia, Bona was drawn to Sabdamala because of its potential to address the needs of Nepali children brought up abroad like herself. She is excited that it not only serves to validate her own mentoring endeavors over the years, but represents a paradigm shift in the Nepalese community to make our youngest our top priority.
Jaya. T. Sodemba (Academic Coordinator; Sep 11- Present / Executive Member; Mar 11 to Sep 11 )
Jaya Sodemba completed her Bachelor of Arts from the University of North Bengal, India. She pursued her career in teaching from the year 1992 at Serene Valley School and left the school in 2007 while holding the position of Academic-in-charge. Because of her interest in teaching/children, she attended various courses and workshops to hone her capabilities. She has a strong sense of community building and working towards progress. She has been involved with Sabdamala since September 2010 and is motivated to achieve higher results for Sabdamala.
Sabdamala Academic Staff
Achala Timilsina
Achala Bhattarai Timilsina has a degree in Masters of Chemistry (Honors) from the University of Waikato, New Zealand. She has experience in teaching and research in chemistry for about 10 years, working in both Nepal and New Zealand. She has been involved in Australian stock trading business since 2007 and will pursue her career in the same trade. She is highly motivated to work with different people from various backgrounds to share her ideas, which is why she joined Sabdamala.
Alina Tamrakar
Alina earned her Masters Degree in Environmental Science from the University of Sydney, Australia and Bachelors in Environmental Science from St. Xavier’s College, Kathmandu, Nepal. She has worked in various environmental organizations in Nepal and Australia and her field of work revolves around environmental education and conservation. Her interest in sustainability has also seen Alina involved in conducting trainings and workshops to various stakeholders ranging from school students, teachers and community groups on sustainable living. Alina started her career in Sydney as a Project officer at the Centre for Environment Education, Australia and is currently working as a GIS Technician at Sensis Pty Ltd, Sydney. Alina has been with Sabdamala as an academic teacher since its inception in 2010. She has also completed the Certificate in Language Teaching from the University of Sydney in 2011 as part of NSW Community Languages Program.
Bikash Chhetri
In 2009, Bikash completed his Masters of Teaching (Primary) at ACU after completing a Bachelor of Arts (Computer Science Major). His earlier qualification is a Bachelor of Biological Sciences from Government College, Darjeeling. After graduation, Bikash started working in various capacities at ACU but mostly as a Research Assistant where he has been involved in research works encompassing many pioneering educational initiatives such as the use of Open Learning Spaces in schools, the MyScience mentoring program that is working towards encouraging K-6 students to take up science and an educational program that encourages students from low SES to take up Higher Education.
Bina Shrestha
Bina Shrestha completed her high school education in Darjeeling and worked as a primary school teacher in Pachu Primary School in Bhutan for 2 years followed by an 8-year teaching period in Galaxy Public School, Kathmandu. Since arriving in Australia, Bina has continued on with her education, currently studying Children Services on a part-time basis at TAFE. She supplements her studies with varied work experience in child care.She has worked as a playgroup child care worker at the Marrickville West Paublic School and as a co-facilitator at KU Children Services, Homebush. She is currently working full time at a Long Day Care Centre at the Marrickville Pre-School. Bina is married with 2 daughters.
Binisha Tamrakar
Binisha Tamrakar has a Bachelors in Business Studies from the KIST College of Management (Nepal). She went on to undertake a Masters of Business Administration at the University of Wales (UK) in 2006. Although Binisha is primarily from an accounts/administration background, she has an interest in teaching and engaging with children. She worked as an assistant teacher at Delight Kindergarten in Nepal in 2010 after undertaking a pre-primary teaching and early childhood care course. As an assistant teacher, she was involved in classroom management, preparing lesson plans and bringing in new and creative ideas for theme based activities. Binisha has been involved in Sabdamala since August 2010. She has also completed the Certificate of Language Teaching from the University of Sydney in August 2011.
Jaya Sodemba
Jaya Thapa Sodemba completed her Bachelors of Arts from the University of North Bengal, India. She pursued her career in teaching from the year 1992 at Serene Valley School and left the school in 2007 while holding the position of Academic-in-charge. Because of her interest in teaching/children she attended various courses and workshops to hone her capabilities. She has a strong sense of community building and working towards progress. She has been involved with Sabdamala since September 2010 and is motivated to achieve higher results for Sabdamala.
Palpasa Shrestha
Palpasa Shrestha believes that teaching has been instilled into her since childhood as both her parents had been in this profession. Palpasa completed her Bachelor of Teaching from the University of Sydney through a scholarship program in 2005. Since then, she has been teaching year 11/12 and year 9/10 students at Strathfield South High school. Even though challenging and painstaking at times, she is of the opinion that teaching is the most rewarding, fulfilling and uplifting career. Being involved in Sabdamala has provided her not just an opportunity to help Nepalese children improve their Nepali linguistic skills but is has also provided her a propitious chance to help her students be acquainted with the rich Nepalese culture and heritage.
Riddhi Charan Shrestha
Riddhi Charan Shrestha started teaching from 1959 at Sahakari Middle School. He was the Principal of Bal Kumari School from 1961 to 1986. He worked as an administrative member of Small Heaven Boarding High School. He started dancing and acting since 1959 and is a founder member of the Narayani Kala Mandir in Chitwan, Nepal. He has acted in more than 60 Nepali movies, including Kanchi (for which he received an award), Santan, Nata ragat ko, Malai Maf Gari Deu, Sukha Dukha, Maeli, Malati, Karja, Daeejo, Mohani, Sanjevani, Aago, Pirati, Karma and Hifazat. He is also a founder member of the Nepal Red Cross Society and Narayani Kala Mandir, Narayangarh and a member of Susta Manastheti Kalyan Santha, Nepal Pariwar Niyojan Sang, Chitwan Branch and Nepali Movies Organisation.
Seema Shrestha
Seema Shrestha has a Masters in English Literature from the Tribhuwan University, Nepal. She taught at Somang Academy (Kathmandu) for 6 years and worked as an administrator at Everest Foundation and Win medicare for 2 years. She has a special interest in teaching languages and she joined Sabdamala as a result. Her hobby is singing, which is an added asset for her as a teacher and a benefit for the students of Sabdamala. She attended a few classes in the beginning of the year 2011 and will now continue from Term 4 of 2011.
Ujjwal Allay (Start – Dec 2010)
Ujjwal Allay spent his school days in his hometown, Kalimpong and also in Darjeeling. He then went on to complete his Bachelor of Commerce from Bangalore and arrived in Sydney in 2008 to pursue his Postgraduate Studies. He completed his Masters of Applied Finance from the University of Western Sydney and his Graduate Diploma in Education (Secondary) from the Australian Catholic University. Ujjwal believes that the decision of setting up Sabdamala is the perfect platform to help our community preserve our heritage and our language. As a member of the Sabdamala Academic Staff, Ujjwal looks forward to working with the children from our community.
Volunteers and Supporters
Sabdamala would like to acknowledge the support of the following individuals in 2010-2011 who have supported us at various events and/or with various aspects of our week to week operations:
Akash Shakya
Arun and Anu Pradhan
Binam Tamang and Menuka Rai
Chitra Tumbahangphe
Dinesh Pahari
Dinesh Rai
Dr Narayan and Leela Pradhan
Gitanjali Pradhananga
Kabindra Shrestha
LB Shrestha
Mahendra and Gyanu Shrestha
Major Bhala Bahadur and Barsha Rai
Padam Shakya
Pranai Rai
Sangita Rai
Sima Chhetri
Sion Chhetri
Supriya Shakya
Sujata KC
Suyog Shrestha
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