Driving into the Pacific Market at Ardeer, in Melbourne’s west, you are met with an array of flags and numerous food trucks.

Pakistani, Italian, Indian and many other cuisines have formed a United Nations of food, ready to welcome visitors and invite them to explore the different flavours and aromas of each culture.

None of this would have been possible had it not been for the determination and entrepreneurial spirit of Maria Tiatia.

“Everyone who comes here says that it’s as if they have travelled the world,” she says.

Upon meeting her, her joy and big smile are infectious, and it is easy to tell that she is someone who loves and appreciates connecting with people.

“If you love someone, you have to help them,” she adds.

Maria’s life is nothing less than remarkable. She is of Samoan background and moved to Australia from New Zealand.

Maria began her life in Australia by being an assistant manager at McDonalds, while also looking after her parents.  

Maria also studied aged care and says that things were initially difficult for newly arrived citizens of Samoan background.

“At first, no member of the Samoan community could get the help they needed, so I decided to be the one to help them out,” Maria says.

The one thing that keeps Maria going even at the hardest of times is her positive spirit and her love for the community.

“My heart is always with the community”, she says. “I’ve helped the Samoan community for many years now,” she adds.

She says that love is very important when you want to achieve something or help someone in need.

She started her food truck business in 2022, while also having helped many members of the community, particularly the Samoan community, send parcels to their family after the COVID-19 period.

“We had 19 stalls at the beginning, and it was only then that I started making money,” Maria says.

The ride has not always been smooth, as there have been council disputes to obtain a permit, while in the process of sustaining her business, she has also been personally affected.

“I lost my house for this; to fight for this community,” she says.

Throughout all difficulties, she kept her spirits up and has become very successful at Pacific Market, where the food trucks attract many customers.

“Five hundred people show up every week; we are the cheapest food truck in the area,” Maria says.

Now having a successful business, Maria’s advice to those thinking about starting their own business is to “get a good owner and be honest”.

“Not everyone will like what you do,” she adds.

Maria believes that food and love have the ability to bring people together.

This is reflected in her feelings about the refugees and migrants that visit the food trucks.

“Any community is welcome here,” Maria says.

When asked about some people’s negative perceptions towards refugees, Maria believes that people need to be told that refugees can only do good to Australia and should not be ostracised from the community.

“You don’t know what people have been through,” she says.

“It’s better to give people opportunities so they can showcase their skills”, Maria adds.

In this way, Maria believes that immigration should also start playing a more active role in offering help to newly arrived individuals so they can contribute to Australian society and economy.

She, herself, is an excellent example of what tenacity, love and hard work can achieve.

By Katerina Hatzi