Shillar Sibanda OAM – Treasurer, Western Suburbs Regional Group, Order of Australia Association Ltd (Victoria)

The Currency of Intention: My Journey with Money

“My relationship with money has been shaped by both necessity and intention. I grew
up in an average-income household where family values and shared experiences
were placed above financial accumulation. That upbringing instilled in me a deep
respect for money—not as a source of status, but as a tool for stewardship, dignity
and long-term empowerment. I learned that every dollar must be deliberate, weighed
against need, value, and future impact.

This disciplined foundation became my launchpad—enabling me to begin saving at
every opportunity, embark on an investment journey with limited resources, and lay
the groundwork for strategic financial growth. The freedom it cultivated now
empowers me to spend deliberately, aligning my choices with what genuinely
matters to me.

The truth is that my discipline is not about deprivation; it's about alignment. I
absolutely choose designer items if I want to. But I do not choose them for flash or
status. I choose them because, after a lifetime of careful stewardship, I deem them
important. They bring me profound joy, represent the tangible fruits of my resilience,
and grant access to tables and conversations I once only imagined. They are not a
distraction from my values; they are the intentional, earned rewards of living them.

So, my money story remains one of intention. Every purchase, from groceries to
property, is still measured against a simple question: does this align with my values
and serve my joy, my family's future, or my community? Money, to me, is the
currency that fuels a life of substance, and that now includes the joy of enjoying its
rewards.”