Congratulations to the Westgate Sindjelic FC on your incredible 40th Anniversary, a milestone that speaks volumes about your legacy, passion and impact on our community.

It’s an honour to join the celebration and witness the pride, history and camaraderie that define your club. Thank you for the warm and heartfelt hospitality. It’s a truly special gathering that brought generations together through the love of the game.

From grassroots to greatness, Westgate Sindjelic FC continues to inspire with its commitment to sport, youth and community spirit. Here’s to the next 40 years of goals, growth and unforgettable moments.

I had the pleasure of attending the Sri Lankan Night event at Dempster Park Sunshine North, and it was an unforgettable experience. The evening was filled with vibrant music, delicious food, and a wonderful sense of community.

I had an amazing time attending the community event today. It was fantastic to see so many people come together and enjoy a day filled with fun and free activities. 

It’s heart warming to see our community come together and enjoy such a well organised event. A big thank you to all the volunteers and The St Albans Sports Club in conjunction with The St Albans Football Club and St Albans Cricket Club who made St Albans Family Fun Day possible.

I am deeply honoured and humbled to be elected as the Mayor of our wonderful city. I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to all the Councillors, residents, volunteers, and friends who have placed their trust in me. Your support and confidence drive my commitment to serve Brimbank community with dedication and integrity.

As a refugee, my late mother always told us how lucky we are to live in Australia and that we must pay back to this country. I was born during the Vietnam War and experienced a terrifying escape by sea and a tough start in South Australia. Growing up in Australia, I feel incredibly fortunate to call this country home. Moving to Brimbank 17 years ago and choosing Brimbank as my hometown has made me even luckier. I’ve had many opportunities to lead and contribute to various projects in Brimbank, and across Victoria.

Now, I have the chance to lead a city where almost 100,000 residents were born overseas, and over 55% speak a language other than English at home. This diversity brings different perspectives and new ideas, though it can also present challenges like communication barriers and cultural conflicts. I embrace this enormous responsibility and see it as a huge opportunity to make a difference in our municipality. I welcome any opportunity from the community to make our city the best it can be.

I am committed to working hard to address the needs and concerns of all our residents and to ensure our municipality continues to thrive. My goals include youth and women empowerment, multicultural engagement, mental health, climate change, and sustainability. I will continue to build strong partnerships with the federal, and state governments and stakeholders to build on our successes. I am also committed to good governance, kindness, and inclusion in my role as Mayor. I will work well with all Councillors and the executive team to ensure every decision and action aligns with our community vision. Together, we will strive to create an inclusive, thriving, and vibrant city.

A special thank you to my family, friends, and the volunteers who have worked tirelessly to support this journey. Your dedication and hard work have been truly inspiring, and I am grateful for your unwavering support.

Before ending my speech, I would like to share a few words in Vietnamese dedicated to my late parents, whom I believe are always by my side.

Thưa ba mẹ, con rất tiếc là mẹ không chờ thêm được vài tháng để chứng kiến ngày hôm nay của con. Con xin cám ơn ba mẹ đã đưa con đến bến bờ tự do, luôn khích lệ con học, sống thật tốt với mọi người và trả ơn nước Úc. Con luôn tự hào là con của ba mẹ và con có được đức tính nhân hậu của ba mẹ, luôn muốn kết nối mọi người ngồi lại với nhau cùng đóng góp cho xã hội. Con sẽ luôn ghi nhớ cách sống mà trong phút cuối, ba đã nhắc nhỡ con “đối xử với mọi người như con muốn họ đối lại với con”. Con thương ba mẹ nhiều lắm.

And now I want to share with you my words to my late parents:

Dear Mom and Dad, I’m sorry that Mom couldn’t wait for a few months to be here today. Thank you both for bringing me to a free country, always encouraging me to study, be kind to others, and give back to Australia. I’m proud to be your child and to have inherited your kindness, always wanting to bring people together to help society. I’ll always remember Dad’s last advice: “Treat others as you want to be treated.” I love you both very much.

Thank you once again for this incredible opportunity. I commit to serving the residents of Brimbank to the best of my abilities with enthusiasm, compassion, and devotion to our community. I look forward to continuing to work with our Councillors, Monitors, CEO, executive team, and stakeholders to ensure a strong and sustainable future for our community.

Brimbank is a melting pot of cultures, where people from all corners of the globe come together to create a unique and diverse community. People from different backgrounds live harmoniously, sharing their traditions and learning from one another.

In my four years as a Councillor, I have had the chance to attend various events. These cultural events enrich my life, broaden my perspectives, and help me appreciate the beauty of diversity. They teach me the importance of empathy, respect, and understanding, making us better global citizens.

I had the incredible opportunity to attend the Africa’s Got Talent event. The evening was filled with awe-inspiring performances that showcased the immense talent and cultural richness of our community.

A huge congratulations to all the talented individuals who participated and to the organizers for putting together such a fantastic event. Africa’s Got Talent truly highlighted the vibrant spirit and creativity within our community.

We proudly joined the unveiling of a stunning Art Mural for the Hackaton Project at Copperfield College. The Hackathon Project is a Brimbank Council initiative allowing students from Copperfield College to raise awareness of a topic they feel is important to them and our community. This mural is more than just a beautiful piece of art; it represents a powerful message chosen by the Copperfield College students: Racism and Cultural Diversity.

The unveiling ceremony was a heartfelt event, attended by students, teachers, and community members. It was inspiring to see everyone come together to support this initiative and to celebrate the creativity and passion of the artist and students.

A huge thank you to Lukas Kasper for his incredible artistry and to the Copperfield College students for their dedication to this meaningful project. Let’s continue to celebrate our differences and work together to create a better future for all.

Another term as Lions Club of Melbourne Vietnamese President. I’m incredibly grateful for the continued trust and support from all of amazing fellow Lions, friends, AVAC and supporters.

Together, we’ve accomplished so much from successful fundraising events to empowering our community with cybersecurity knowledge.

Here’s another year of making a positive impact!

Photos credit to Nguyen Cao & Xuan Yen.

Such a great night catching up with Dr Daniel Mulino MP, Mayor Cr Cuc Lam, Cr Jasmine Nguyen, and many old friends at the fundraiser for the new Footcray hospital.

Congratulations to the Vietnamese Community in Australia-Victoria Chapter for hosting a successful event. It was amazing to see everyone come together for such an important cause.

Feeling inspired and grateful for the incredible work being done in our community.