LOCAL LIFE
MAKE A DIFFERENCE:
Emie Roy
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Emie( second from left) has recently published a book highlighting some of the inspirational women in Blacktown.
by Lorna Gordon
Emie Roy’ s journey to becoming one of Western Sydney’ s most thoughtful storytellers has been anything but straightforward. Born and raised in the culturally rich and education-driven state of Kerala in southern India, Emie always had a deep love for reading and writing.
“ Even when I was little, my biggest wish was to be a writer,” she recalls.“ I revered writers. I knew the genres, the authors— I just loved the world of words.”
It was her father who gave her one of the most formative pieces of advice of her life, which was“ Stay different”, an unusual request to give a child, but one that Emie stands by to this day.
“ Back then, I didn’ t fully understand what he meant. It felt like a challenge. But as I grew older, I realised it was the best guidance. That mindset of asking myself,‘ How can I do this differently?’ has stayed with me.”
Emie married and moved to Australia where her husband now lived to complete his post graduate studies. It was a huge change for her, especially as she couldn’ t work as a vet, a career she had studied hard for.
“ I didn’ t know much about other countries then— I was happy at home. Moving to Australia meant I didn’ t know anyone, and everything was unfamiliar. But the one thing that got me through was the language. I had studied in English all my life, read books in the language and grown up on classic Hollywood movies. That connection kept me grounded.”
Not one to let a setback stop her in her tracks, she tried other career paths, from working in a lab for cancer research to project management, but her passion for writing and storytelling remained constant. She began contributing stories to Indian Link and SBS In language programs, slowly building a voice that resonated across cultures.
Eventually, she founded The Stories Untold Collective, an initiative that brings everyday yet impactful human stories to light through books, short films, and community events. Her latest project, Women of Blacktown 2025, is a testament to that vision. Conceived after Emie was named Blacktown City Woman of the Year in 2023, the book celebrates 25 extraordinary women who have made meaningful contributions across a range of fields— from sport and the arts to public service and grassroots community work. She told me why it was so important for her to raise the profile of other women in our community.
“ After the award, I was surrounded by so many women doing incredible things. But awards can only go to a few. That’ s when the idea of a book came— so we could honour many more.”
Produced in partnership with Blacktown City Council and Australian Catholic University, the project brings together deeply personal stories combined with environmental portraits instead of polished headshots that aim to inspire, not intimidate.
“ We were careful to make the stories relatable, authentic narratives. Some of these women had very few choices and still managed to break barriers. Others had options, but their journey wasn’ t any easier. What connected them was purpose.”
Currently available through Blacktown City Libraries, the State Library of NSW’ s Indyreads platform, and the Council’ s Blacktown Memories website, Women of Blacktown 2025 is just the beginning. Emie hopes to continue this work through podcasts, short documentaries, and eventually, leadership programs inspired by the women featured.
“ I’ ve done a lot of things in life,” she says,“ but I think I’ ve found my purpose in nurturing stories— especially those that bring light to the lives of women in our community.”
And in doing so, Emie Roy is proving that staying different is, indeed, the most powerful way to make a difference. You can find more of Emie’ s work at www. thestoriesuntold. com. au.
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BLACKTOWN CITY INDEPENDENT theindependentmagazine. com. au ISSUE 50 // MAY 2025 11