Q&A…with Transit Soup Kitchen and Food Support volunteer Lisa Milkovic

Transit Soup Kitchen and Food Support volunteer Lisa Milkovic. Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS 352502

Tell us a fun fact about yourself!

I’m a Nanny of two gorgeous grandchildren. My granddaughter is two years old and my grandson is five weeks old. They just fill my heart with so much love.

What do you love most about your job?

Giving back to the community is extremely rewarding. Transit is not just about providing food support, it’s a place to come and sit and socialise with others, get a hug when you’re having a bad day or you need a shoulder to cry on and know that you’re not alone. A smile, some kind words and letting people know they’re loved, important and supported can really life someone’s spirits to feel better about themselves and have a much better day.

If you were an animal, what animal would you be?

I just love elephants. They are the largest land animal, are extremely smart and are able to learn new things. As a herd, they grieve together if they lose a family member or a friend. Truly majestic.

What would your last meal be?

I am such a foodie I couldn’t pick just one meal. It would have to be a smorgasbord. Indian, Mexican, dumplings, lasagna, fried chicken, Chinese, seafood, the list goes on.

What was your most memorable moment?

I found Transit at a time in my life when I could no longer work and felt like my life was falling apart. Volunteering gave me a sense of purpose and taught me that life is not about how much money you have. It’s about surrounding yourself with good people and being grateful for what you have.

What were you like as a kid?

As a child, I was always outside. We lived in a court and all the kids would always be playing together. We would play hopscotch, pogo sticks, ride bicycles, baseball, marbles, elastics, go to the local park and play knuckles. It was a time when we had to be home by the time the street lights came on.

What three words would your friends use to describe you?

Loving, caring and funny.

What would you do on your perfect ‘day off’?

My perfect day off is to just have a relaxing day and catch up on my crocheting.

Where is your happy place?

Definitely getting together with family and friends and sharing a good meal with lots of laughs.

If you had to compete on MasterChef, what dish would you cook?

Maybe a beef or pork ramen bowl, so delicious.

Where is your dream holiday destination?

I would love to go to the animal sanctuary in Chiang Mai in Thailand. The Elephant Jungle Sanctuary is one of the best elephant sanctuaries in Chiang Mai and has a track record of sustainable and ethical treatment of elephants.