Ordinary Members

The following ordinary members of the Committee were elected at the annual general meeting held on 16 September 2011.

Nora Kovarcikova
Inka Havrila
Jan Tomka
Maria Garland
Katarina Tomka
Imro Szabo
Milan Urban

Nora Kovarcikova

Nora KovarcikovaI was born in Trenčín on 6th of September 1967 and grew up in Stará Turá in the Western Slovakia region, close to the Moravia border. I got married to Ivan Kovarčík in September 1992 and we have two beautiful children, daughter Lucia (16) and son Jakub (14).
Education and working experience
I studied at the Secondary College (Gymnázium) in Myjava and then continued my studies at the Faculty of Chemical Technology at the Slovak Technical University in Bratislava. I graduated in 1989 with a title of a “chemical engineer”.  My deep interest in English took me through a one-year course of English at the Private language school in Brno, where I successfully completed the general state exam in English and later on also the additional state exams in interpreting and translating. In 1995 I completed my postgraduate pedagogical studies at the Faculty of Pedagogy and Psychology.
In 1992 I started my carrier as a secondary teacher of English and chemistry at the Evangelical Lyceum in Bratislava. After finishing the maternity leave in 2000 I started  working at the National Institute of Education in Bratislava as a research fellow on various international projects. In May 2008 I was offered a job by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) in Melbourne to work as a senior research fellow in education on the Programme for International Students Assessment surveys.
Community Activities:
After moving the whole family to Melbourne in 2008 I participated in many different activities organized by the Czech and Slovak communities (Vodafest, ZASV, The Slovak Cultural and Social Club of "Ľudovít Štúr")  such as theatre, concerts, dinners, functions, picnics, trips, summer camps and others. Thanks to these activities I met a lot of interesting people and me and my family found new friends in Australia. I look forward to work with the ZASV committee to plan, organize and develop interesting community activities.
Hobbies and Interests:
I like traveling, studying languages and cultural differences around the globe. I like ocean and beaches, sport (tennis, swimming, biking, skating, skiing) and music,
dancing (zumba), and meeting friends and children to enjoy good food and have fun with.


Inka Havrila 

Inka HavrilaI was born in Slanske Nove Mesto in 1945. I have three adult children, Richard, who lives in Bratislava, Roland, and Maja. I am a happy and proud grand mother of   four grandchildren, Arianka who lives in Bratislava, Sonia, Rebeccah and Olivier.
Education and working experience
I completed my studies at the Agricaltural University, majoring in veterinary in Kosice. At the end of the studies I worked as a researcher for Agricultural Economic Research Institute branch Kosice and later before the departure to Australia for the Institute of Experimental Veterinary Medicine in Kosice. After arriving to Australia in December 1982 I completed the introductory English courses and devoted myself to further studies. Once I completed the Master degree, course by research at LaTrobe University,
I took a short term job as a researcher for the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics in Canberra. I moved back to Melbourne for family reasons where from July 1990 until my retirement in 2010 I worked as a Lecturer and later on as a Senior Lecturer at Victoria University, School of Economics, Faculty of Business and Law.
During 20 years of academic career I taught 12 different subjects mostly with economic curriculum and across 4 different countries such as Malaysia, China, Thailand and Hong Kong. In 2004 I received my PhD for the research in international trade focusing on the Australian International trade in textiles and clothing.
Hobbies
Despite retirement, I did not close the door completely for the academic activity. I still teach with substantially reduced time at Victoria and Swinburne University. In my spare time I enjoy gardening, reading, walking and meeting with friends I never had enough time for.

 

Jan TomkaJan Tomka 

I was born on 18 March 1980 in Levice, Slovakia. I am married to Katarina Tomka without children.
Education and working experience
In 2002 I moved to Bratislava, Slovakia and then to Melbourne, Australia in 2008. For almost 10 years I have worked as a computer programmer, working in the areas of automation, mobile networking and online directories.
Community activities
In 2010 I became involved with Czech and Slovak communities in Melbourne. Since then I have organized or have participated in a number of community projects such as:

  • VodaFest Czech and Slovak Festival 2010
  • Czech and Slovak Nights at Koliba and Sumava
  • Monthly Czech and Slovak Newsletter
  • Slovaks in Australia group at the 2011 Australia Day Peoples’ March
  • Slovaks in Australia 2012 calendar

I have also created several websites for various community projects:

I am the vice-president of VodaFest Czech and Slovak Association, a committee member of Australian Slovaks’ Association in Victoria and a regular member of The Slovak Social & Cultural Association “Ludovit Stur”.
Hobbies
I am passionate about scuba diving, Internet marketing, heavy-metal music, world cuisines and cooking at home.
 

Maria (Vargova) Garland

 MajaI was born on 2nd of February 1965 in Modra, Slovakia. I am married to Peter Garland and we have two daughters (11 and 8 years old.) I met my- now husband -Peter (Australian nationality) in 1993 on the International Canoe Tour on the river Danube (TID). The international community and friendships gained over number of years kayaking on the Danube deepened my interest in other cultures and traditions. The year 1995 I spent traveling as a backpacker trough Europe, Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, India and Nepal. I moved to Australia in 1999, firstly to Brisbane and later on, after I married my husband Peter, we moved and settled in Melbourne.
Education and working experience
I studied at the Secondary College (Gymnazium) in Modra and later Graduated at Slovak Technical University in Bratislava - Faculty of Civil Engineering. I lived in Modra and Bratislava where I worked as an Architectural Designer in the building company Priemstav. After the political change in 1989 I worked as a Civil Engineer for a private designing company ISA. Since moving to Australia I worked as a Draftsperson for several companies. While raising my two children I returned to work as an Estimator for plastering company RegencyPlaster.
Community involvements and volunteering
Group leader in children's summer camps at Sumava in 2010, 2009 and 2008. Founder and Organizing Committee member of Vodafest Festival 2010. Coordinator of community events :Easter workshop and Marble tournament "Walking School Bus" coordinator and leader of “Little gardener” project at our local school (2008,2007) Committee member of the parents association of a local Kindergarden  (2006).
Hobbies
working with children in the community, folklore and traditions, traveling, hiking, gardening, Slovak language, other languages and cultures, sport.

Katarina (Okuliarova) Tomka

Katarina Tomka

I was born on 26 April 1984 in Trnava, Slovakia. I completed my Master degree in Business Management at University of Economics, Slovakia in 2007. Simultaneously with my studies I started my career at one of the local Slovak brewery, what later on became the second largest brewer in the world and thanks to local acquisitions second largest player in Central Europe. After a year with this company my career direction became clear. I decided to emerge into the “science” of marketing. Developing under the guidance of true marketing gurus and world class professionals I was in charge of brand marketing campaigns for several local and international beer brands.In 2003 I met my husband Jan and as students we both moved to Melbourne, Australia in 2008. Since than I worked as a bar tender, barista, waitress, student (it is a job too:), admin staff, event staff and fund rising coordinator and landed back into marketing.
Community work
Thanks to my beloved husband I became involved with Czech and Slovak communities in Melbourne. Since 2010 we have participated, assisted or organized number of community projects (our two weddings and other personal events on top of it :)

  • VodaFest Czech and Slovak Festival 2010
  • Czech and Slovak Nights at Koliba and Sumava
  • Slovaks in Australia group at the 2011 Australia Day Peoples’ March
  • Slovaks in Australia 2012 calendar

At the moment I am in charge of Finance and resources at VodaFest Czech and Slovak Association, a committee member of Australian Slovaks’ Association in Victoria and a regular member of The Slovak Social & Cultural Association “Ludovit Stur”.

Hobbies
Traveling, books, various sports from yoga to skiing and ice skating, hiking, camping and anything nature oriented (except of the water sports). I love a good coffee and can recognize the best beer but chocolate is the winner of all my temptations. I undertook several meditation courses and personal development seminars. I am passionate about new emerging marketing tactics and big fan of thinking out of square.