Healthy work saluted

A DEEP commitment to doing good and keep doing it well has earned the top laurel for a long-time Whittlesea local.

Well known for energetically spreading the message of good oral and environment health, Dr Swati Sharma has been saluted with the Whittlesea Council’s Citizen of the Year title.

A dentist, with 25 years’ experience in the profession, Dr Sharma has been practising in Epping for 15 years.

“I was actually pretty thrilled (to win the honour) because I wasn’t expecting to win. To be very frank I thought there must be lots of other people who have done lots of bigger things, so it was quite unexpected,” Dr Sharma told the Review.
“It was pretty awesome feeling. I was grateful to the council, and if what you do in the society, if that’s recognised, it kind of boosts you to do more.”

Dr Sharma is not alone when lending a hand for various community projects in Whittlesea.

“I worked on quite a few projects in Whittlesea with my daughters – Hansikaa and Tanya. They have been doing a lot of more work.”

Dr Sharma delivers talks on maintaining good dental health at schools, temples and community gatherings. She has organised free dental camps for children, families and the elderly.

She has supported initiatives such as No More Balloons, No Butts About It, and Cycle of Change, focusing on environmental harm and promoting sustainable, dignified choices for young girls and the broader community.

From 2018 until last year, Dr Sharma served as the founder and secretary of the Sanskriti Community Group for Women, organising yoga, dance and cultural activities. She is Vice President of the Whittlesea Interfaith Network.

She has contributed to the Whittlesea Community Festival through the World Kitchen program and has been involved in the Carols by Candlelight celebrations.

Asked what motivates her for the prolonged community work, Dr Sharma said: “My greatest driving force is my kids. I wanted them to grow up not just hearing about values, but living them. That’s why we started community work when they were very young, so they could see firsthand what it means to give back. Whether it was environmental initiatives or supporting charities, the goal was always to lead by example.

“Also, I am proud of my Indian heritage, and I want to represent that in a positive way.”

At the heart of Dr Sharma’s work is a belief in karma. “I believe in doing good without expecting anything in return. It is about responsibility, giving back and making a positive difference wherever you can.”

Dr Sharma’s daughters have done her proud, reflecting the same spirit of community service. They have been recognised for their work. Hansikaa won the City of Whittlesea Young Citizen of the Year honour in 2022. The same year, Tanya received recognition as the Sustainable Citizen.