“Thirty-four years ago the first Vietnamese refugees arrived on our shores. They came to Australia with nothing but innovation, determination and a willingness to work hard. They raised families, started businesses, built homes and formed organisations to look after new members of their community-organisations like the VCA,” Mr Clare said.
Mr Clare is working closely with the Vietnamese Community in Australia, their NSW Chapter President Mr Tri Vo, as well as members of the Vietnamese media to create a steering committee to make this important celebration happen.
Mr Clare told the Federal Parliament:
“We are working on some exciting ideas:
- a public exhibition that gets the story of Vietnamese migration right;
- an oral history tour into primary schools and high schools to pass the stories of their grandparents onto this generation;
- a dinner here in Parliament House to recognise the contribution that Vietnamese Australians have made right across the country;
- a permanent memorial in Cabramatta-the heart of Vietnamese Australia.”
Media Contact: Chris Zogopoulos
T: 9790 2466
