Matija Tomin

Tomin, Matija

Seafood Processor. (Jezera, island of Murter, Croatia, 21 December 1943).

Completed elementary school. Her early life in Croatia was difficult, marked by labour-intensive work in the fishing industry and in the fields. For economic reasons, she migrated to Australia by air, arriving in Adelaide on 28 October 1966.

Due to medical conditions and numerous stays in hospitals, Tomin learned English from hospital staff and by watching television. She worked in the seafood industry as a fish filleter and was awarded South Australian Champion Fish Filleter in 1986.

She was involved with many committees at The Croatian Club Adelaide, including the Croatian Ethnic School (1977–1984 and 2008–2018), the Croatian Folkloric Ensemble Lenek (1981–1991). Tomin also volunteered with Croatian Care for the Aged Association and the Croatian Women's Auxiliary Hrvatska Žena Katarina Zrinski. She was a founding member of the Croatian Arts and Crafts section of the Croatian Club Adelaide (1977), and volunteered in the kitchen for many years at both the old and new Clubs (Chief Street, Hindmarsh and Second Street, Brompton).