OBITUARY
In late May, AUSIT’s SA/NT Branch lost a long-term member who will be greatly missed by family, friends and colleagues, Graciela Chiriaco-Vicente. Her colleagues and friends Magdalena Rowan and Gabriela Callaghan have worked with Graciela’s beloved daughter Tracy to put together this tribute.
She would set up a classroom in the family garage to help students with their English …
This is our farewell to a dear friend and colleague, Graciela Chiriaco-Vicente, whose kindness, generosity and warmth left a lasting mark on everyone fortunate enough to know her.
Graciela – a NAATI-certified Spanish–English interpreter and translator – loved her work, and was highly regarded and sought after for her professionalism, empathy, care and humanitarian approach.
Graciela was born and grew up in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She was the middle sister of three, with Betty being the eldest and Adriana the youngest. When Graciela started university she initially intended to study law, but due to a romantic interest ended up enrolling in biology – another passion of hers. While studying she also worked as a bilingual teacher and was very popular with her students. She would tutor from home, setting up a classroom in the family garage to help students with their English lessons, but would have to put everything away when her father arrived home in the evening, so he could park his car.
Graciela migrated to Australia in May 1982 – right in the middle of the Falklands war – to be with her future husband. She initially arrived in Melbourne and worked in childcare for a while before being employed by TIS at their call centre. She qualified as an accredited interpreter and translator in 1987.
Graciela’s daughter, Tracy, was born in 1987 and the family moved to Adelaide in 1990, where Graciela completed a bachelor of arts via distance education through the University of Tasmania, while also still working as an interpreter and translator.
Graciela then went on to work for various agencies, as well as establishing her own private T&I business. She also completed a master’s in translation at a later stage for her own professional satisfaction and development.
Later, when Graciela was on her own with Tracy, she supplemented her income by working in admin at a glass factory, to ensure her daughter had everything she needed. Graciela was very much appreciated there – so much so that every time she said she needed to leave, as she was too busy with her T&I business, her employer begged her not to – and being Graciela she didn’t want to let them down, so she stayed on longer!
Graciela was also a good and fiercely loyal friend, she welcomed people with an open heart, she was pragmatic, she shared her knowledge freely, and she always found time to support those around her – including her beloved dog Charlie and her friends’ pets, which she occasionally looked after. Tracy was the centre of Graciela’s life, and they had a fabulous mother–daughter relationship.
As a friend, Graciela will be remembered for her passionate attitude to life and her love for learning – and also for her infamous temper. She was always a bit of a rebel, and was never afraid to speak her mind – to anyone, and about anything she cared for.
Graciela’s presence enriched our lives, and she will be missed deeply by her family, her friends, her colleagues, and the many people whose lives she touched through her work and her generosity of spirit. May you rest in peace, our friend.
