Nirvana Kane, Single mother of two

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Western suburbs resident

“It’s a secret!”, Sales Consultant for Greg Hocking Elly Partners – Altona (Williamstown, Altona, Yarraville)

In 2008, I arrived in Gold Coast, Queensland as a student to pursue my Bachelors of Business, with a double major in Hotel Management and Event Management. I wanted to pursue 3 majors, including Real Estate but they wouldn’t allow me as it would have been another two semesters.

I left Harare, Zimbabwe as growing up, I’ve always wanted my own place to grow. My Father used to work for BHP platinum mines, so he was always travelling between Zimbabwe and Australia. I grew up seeing the pictures and gifts from Australia and had always wanted to come here. South Africa was the other choice, as my sisters were studying there, but I decided on Australia as I have always wanted my independence.

In 2011, I finally graduated. I decided to travel to Melbourne as I have cousins who live in the Northern suburbs. I lived with them for a while and fell in love with the city. I miss the weather in the Gold Coast, but Melbourne has far more job opportunities and is more culturally diverse.

I moved to Melbourne permanently in 2013 and got a job as a Home Finder. Home Finders would cold call people in the area by knocking on peoples’ doors to get leads for the agents they are working with. It is an intimidating job, and it wasn’t easy. I had moments where I would arrive at the place and would sit in in the car for a few minutes and tell myself “I have to do it. I need to do it.” Luckily I never had anyone being rude to me where doors would be slammed on to my face.

I was a Home Finder for about eight months in the Northern suburbs. I was living in the West then, and am a Mother to two children, and decided to find a new place where it was more affordable and nearer travel wise. I wasn’t able to deal with the drive anymore. I have no immediate family here. With family day care, it is far more flexible.

Before I joined Greg Hocking Elly Partners, I was in the Point Cook area and felt I wasn’t growing. I had some targets I needed to achieve when I was there which I didn’t achieve. I started hounding Wayne Elly for a job until May this year, when I was offered my current role. I rang up Wayne one day and asked him if I could work for him. I felt like it was a test, and he was seeing if I was serious. I wanted to work here as I have seen how much the company has grown in the time since they have established themselves in the Williamstown area. I was telling myself “I want to work with that person.”

I rarely have time to do anything else. I am working this hard as it’s a lesson to my children. If you are passionate about something, you should go work for it no matter what. In saying that, it is important to have a great work-life balance.

I do a lot of swimming and reading. I am currently reading a book called ‘How to make friends and influence people’ by Dale Carnegie. It was referred to me by a friend who is also a motivational speaker. I use it to help me with my prospecting and I have used a few useful lines. It’s a good book for people who want to get into the business world.

I grew up in a ‘poor rich’ life, as Mum is middle class, and Dad is upper class. They separated when I was young. I started schooling in a government school and ended up in a private school. Education in Zimbabwe is good, but strict. Zimbabwe is the most educated country in Africa. Coming from a good hard working background, I am very lucky to have been brought up this way. Zimbabweans are not ignorant of the world and we know what is out there.

Thinking back to my options then, Australia has always called out to me. I did think about America then, but Dad said no. My other choices were England as I was looking at Oxford University. I remember thinking “Hey, no one in my family is in Australia.” Fast forward a few years, and I now have two kids.

One thing I would like to be able to do is fly with my kids to surprise my family back home. It’s always been my dream. Now that I know what it’s like to be a single Mum, I would also like to build a house for my Mum.

My experiences as a single mother have been challenging, overwhelming but the most amazing experience I have ever had. I do get moments where I feel like I need help, but having family overseas and not much help around it actually builds you. In a sense, I work twice as hard as I am meant to, simply because I am doing it for my kids’ future.

To be honest, I have had my blessings simply because I would not get the same assistance from my government back home as I would here. After my separation, I had literally nothing. I had no money in my account and on top of that my car was giving up on me. I got help that I never thought would be possible to get back on my feet.

When I came to Melbourne after my separation, I worked as a housekeeper before moving to waitressing. The extra amount I got as assistance from the government managed to keep us fed, sheltered and pay for my children’s care fees. It also allowed me to invest in studying in an area I am passionate about, which got me to where I am today.

On top of the family tax benefit, I felt the government went above and beyond to help me. I would get calls from the government just to check if I had settled in well. They linked me to government covered counselling as I had just come out of a very abusive relationship. It helped me recover and switched my focus from being a victim to becoming a winner.

I also received support from the antenatal nurses and from the doctors who looked after me. All that support built a foundation to make me stronger and made me realise my potential. It got me on a career path that is now my passion and I am able to focus 150% on my children. I am forever grateful for that.

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