John Gomez
“WE PULL TOGETHER AND HELP EACH OTHER, IRRESPECTIVE OF BACKGROUNDS OR BELIEFS”
John Gomez
Country of Origin: Colombia.
Occupation: Managing Director OID design and owner of La Tienda. State of Residency: VIC. Favourite place in Australia: Melbourne. Upon arrival: surprised by the vast land and diversity of people.
By Cristina Abela
John is the Managing director of creative design agency OID Design. For the past 22 years he has been running and operating his own agency. He is also the owner of Colombian restaurant La Tienda. He is best known for his hard work and caring nature. He has volunteered for a range of community organisations. In 2019 he started the “Sharing is Caring” initiative at la Tienda, giving free meals on Tuesday nights during winter. With COVID-19 he has been offering free dinners on Mondays and Tuesdays for people in the community who are struggling. In 6 weeks, they have supplied over 800 free meals, mainly to International students who have lost their employment.
TELL US YOUR STORY
In 1974 my father Orlando was offered the opportunity to move to the USA or come to Australia as part of an employment exchange program. Of the 10 employees selected to migrate he didn’t want to be a sheep and follow the pack so he was the only one to select Australia. The family (my mom, Gilma, my dad, and my younger brother, Ivan) then moved to Melbourne not knowing anyone here. We didn’t have much money or spoke any English. These were challenging times where we built up our resilience. This is a lesson that has stayed with me, it’s a legacy our father left us.
The happy family in Melbourne in the late 70s.
I was a very sick young boy and, at the time, medicine here was not doing much for me; so my grandparents suggested that in Colombia I would be cured, and I was. My parents didn’t want to separate us hence they sent me and my brother for a couple of years to Colombia,where our grandparents looked after us. A year after we came back, by then, our younger sister Melissa was born. I think a combination of Latin and Australian values helped us as a family overcome the various challenges presented to us so far. I am blessed to have been born to the family I have, and live in the country I now call home.
My first job at the age of 18 was working with my father in a company that produced irrigation pipes for many sectors and industries. I also held a part time cleaning job during University. Later, I invested in a clothing store which I had for 4 years. When I was 22 (1997) I started the OID design agency. We work mainly with architects, developers and for the education sector. Amongst our clients we have had Adidas Australia, Mizuno, Monash Universtiy, Box Hill TAFE, Deakin University and the State Trustees.
In 2013, I met my now wife Carmen Anagarita, who has always been very supportive of my projects. My most recent adventure started two years ago, it is the Colombian restaurant La tienda in Windsor. We have been lucky to have been embraced by locals and the broader Latin American community in Melbourne.
I have been involved with various organisations helping the community, such as Refugee for hope, Victoria Foster Care Association and Mirabel Foundation. Currently, I am working on the “Sharing is Caring” initiative which aims to help the general community (but in specific the international students) who have lost their employments. We are offering free meals on Mondays and Tuesdays between 4-8pm, no questions asked. People register at hola@latienda.com.au, show up and receive a free meal, drink and a piece of fruit to take home. Normally we allow people to dine in, but with the restrictions imposed this cannot be done at the moment.
CHALLENGES
Bullying - This was a massive challenge, as not knowing English was difficult growing up. I was teased and faced some sort of bullying because of this. On many occasions in grades 2 and 3 I was teased for speaking both languages. Time and friends helped me learn English; this helped me overcome the situation.
Starting a business – This is always a complicated and challenging process. I had little money to resource the venture and also lack of experience. When OID design was started there was 5 partners involved, we all had our strengths. But as time passed we drifted away, so I had to learn various roles and wear different hats to overcome and move forward. My parents’ advice and past experiences have been engrained in my DNA. Hard work and believing in myself was a big help to overcome those dark days when I was contemplating giving up.
Loss of a loved one - Latino families are generally built on love, loyalty and unity and this is exactly what my father built. Unfortunately, in 2011 we lost our father to cancer. He was my “to go to” for everything; he was my best friend and advisor. Not only for me and my brothers, but also in our community, my father was a person that many looked up to. He always opened our home to help people. He offered shelter and employed people at their most vulnerable times. When we lose a loved one, there are always challenges, but family and good friends help to ease the pain.
Family, Colombia & Australia sums up John biggest influences.
CONTRASTS
Community feel - Culture and the way of life is so different here in Australia compared to Colombia. We come from a country where we are happy, vibrant and personal. Here, in Australia we live in a diverse culture filled with so many different people and religions. Perhaps this is a reason why I find it that society here doesn’t have that “community feel”. Many people here don’t even know who their neighbours are, whereas in most Latino countries we know the neighbours by name.
Food – Differences in food was a bit of a shock, as at the time (in the 70’s) there were no eating options or food items that simulated what we had in Colombia. Today, we do have many more options and shops and restaurants that sell our delicious foods and drinks.
Resilience - Not knowing one word in English was difficult, but like a good Latino would do, I found myself inventing or creating words hoping people would understand me. Never giving up, improving and searching for solutions was a value and attribute my family endorsed in us and is alive today. I feel Latinos have the capacity to overcome challenges, as being resilient is key to migrants.
PIECE OF ADVICE
THINKING OF MOVING TO AUSTRALIA:
Be brave - Do it, come to the best country in the world, come with an open mind, come with your dreams and work on them so they can become a reality. The land of opportunity will give you that, but you need to work hard, be committed and perhaps you need to give something up to achieve what you want. Today you have more options and support to help you ease into the Australia way of life so why not? If you can come to Australia do it!
ON SUCCESS:
Give back- Be yourself, offer something to someone that doesn’t have enough or has less. Giving is always better than receiving. Make a difference without expecting anything in return.
IF YOU ARE STRUGGLING:
Ask for help - Have faith, believe in yourself, and believe that there is always someone in our community willing to extend their hand and help. Be open and talk to people! We live in a beautiful country filled with diverse cultures. Being part of the Latino movement here, I can honestly say that we are blessed, as in times of need, we always pull together and help each other, irrespective of backgrounds, religions or beliefs.
John’s mom, sister, brother and La Tienda staff working hard for the “Sharing is caring” campaign
IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS…
John sees himself working on becoming a better human being, continuing to do the right thing and helping wherever he can. He wants to continue drawing in the Latin community way of doing things for initiatives to support people in need. He wants to inspire others to be part of a movement, a legacy of sharing is caring.