‘‘I always felt Australian,’’ says Lalios. An old school friend told her recently that she remembers Lalios as the one who had olive sandwiches at school. ‘‘My mum says now that she had the Saladas and Vegemite, and hundreds and thousands all ready to go, but all I ever wanted was olive sandwiches!’’

Lalios’s mother arrived in Australia from Greece as a single 20-year-old. She married Lalios’s father, a fellow Greek migrant, and learned English as their two small daughters learned to read.

‘‘At the start, my mother said it was all communication by hand gestures. Then as my sister and I brought readers home from school, she learned from those.’’

Through her work as former mayor, councillor of seven years and her wide involvement in the Whittlesea community, Lalios is keenly aware of what migrants face.

‘‘The usual settlement issues are finding accommodation and putting a roof over the family’s heads. Getting work, and learning the language and the culture,’’ she says.

‘‘A lot depends on the journey people have taken to come here. Refugees have different issues. If you’ve prepared yourself for something it’s different to being forced into something.’’

Lalios was recently honored for her work in multiculturalism, receiving a Victorian Multicultural Commission Award for Excellence, presented by Premier Ted Baillieu at a reception held at Government House.

She was nominated for the award by Whittlesea resident and community leader Niruththa Tharmakulendran, the musical director of NIFA (Niruththa Indian Fine Arts).

Tharmakulendran says Cr Lalios supports a vast array of cultural groups in the City of Whittlesea. ‘‘She helps them considerably, with funding applications, promoting multiculturalism between the groups, and educating groups on other cultures.

‘‘Mary is passionate about the community in which she lives and represents. She genuinely goes out of her way to meet and chat with all community members.’’