4
COVER STORY
SEPTEMBER, 2018// SENIORS
Governor continues the
From a tiny boat to the top job Tracey Johnstone
“G’DAY mate! Welcome to Australia.” The shouted greeting wasn’t anything like what Hieu Van Le AC and his wife Lan expected to hear when they fearfully arrived in Australia. They arrived in 1977 as part of the early wave of Vietnamese refugees, huddled in a 15m wooden fishing boat with 40 other people. The trip was “horrendous”. After weeks at sea and violent rejection by coast guards along the way, the refugees arrived in the pitch dark at Melville Island. In heavy dawn fog of the following day and with grave doubts as to how Australian officialdom would receive them, their tattered boat chugged clumsily into Darwin Harbour, exhausted by the long journey. “All of a sudden,
MUCH APPRECIATED: South Australian Governor, His Excellency Hieu Van Le AC and Mrs Van Le in the grounds of Government House. Photo: AAP / Dean Martin coming towards us was the sound of an outboard motor,” Mr Le said. In the distance was a fast approaching tinnie
with two blokes resplendent in singlets and shorts, hats, white zinc noses, beer cans in hand and fishing rods
` Informative and interesting presentations and guest speakers. ` Exhibitors across a range of areas including health care, retirement living, travel, legal and financial planning.
perched on the stern. “As they got close to our hull one of them raised his stubbie up, as if proposing a toast, and
shouted out,‘g’day mate! Welcome to Australia’.” Every day for the last 41 years, the 64-year-old reminds himself of that
greeting. “It was the first experience I had with Australian people and it made a deep impression.” he said. “I knew instantly we had arrived in a welcoming country, one where a laconic, easy-going attitude was the promise of a ‘fair go’. “Back then the arrival of boat people like us was considered a significant event.” Mr Le landed in Australia at age 23, armed only with a bright mind and a firm belief in making the best of what was in front of him. His journey has been one of persistence and resilience. His life, both then and now, has had many facets. After escaping the ravages of the Vietnam War, he completed two Adelaide University degrees before working as a senior corporate regulator. Prior to becoming South Australia’s Governor, Mr Le also served for several years as member of the South Australian Multicultural and Ethnic Commission (SAMEAC).
DATE:
Wednesday, 3 October 2018
TIME:
8:30am - 1:00pm
ADDRESS:
The Pavilion Rooms, The Star Gold Coast, Broadbeach
COST:
FREE!
` FREE morning tea.
RSVP ESSENTIAL: 07 5504 6000 or events@stevenciobo.com
` FREE parking.
I look forward to seeing you th here!
67 Thomas Drive, Chevron Island Qld 4217 | PO Box 4922, Gold Coast MC Qld 9726 P: (07) 5504 6000 | E: Steven.Ciobo.MP@aph.gov.au | W: www.stevenciobo.com