Con Tàu Hy Vọng - Boat Of Hope
Hình của cô Phúc An - https://photos.app.goo.gl/ULQwMt1Rz5yeftyJA
Good evening everyone,
On behalf of the Vietnamese Museum Australia, it’s my great pleasure to welcome you to the premiere of Tự Do: Boats of Hope.
I’d like to start by acknowledging the traditional custodians of the land on which we gather, the Wurrundjuri of the Kulin nation and pay my respects to elders past and present. As Vietnamese Australians, our own journeys of displacement and belonging help us deeply respect the connection First Nations peoples have to Country.
This week has been one of milestones for our community. On Wednesday evening we celebrated the topping out of our museum building, a moment that marked how far we’ve come in creating a permanent home for our shared stories. And tonight, here at Parliament House, we come together for another milestone: the premiere of our first documentary.
We’re honoured to have so many friends and supporters here tonight. I’d like to acknowledge:
Lee Tarlamis OAM MP – Member for Southern Metropolitan Region speaking on behalf of Premier Jacinta Allan
Trung Luu MP – Member for Western Metropolitan Region speaking on behalf of Leader of the Opposition Brad Battin
Vivienne Nguyen AM, Chairperson of the Victorian Multicultural Commission
Fair Work Commissioner Oanh Tran and Ms Vivienne Lai from the Fair Work Commission
Thu-Trang Tran, Director of Language Loop and Commissioner with the Victorian Building Authority and Liquor Licensing Commission
Major General David McLachlan AO
Brendan Kincade OAM and George Skell from the Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia
John Wells OAM, immediate past president of Dandenong RSL
Garry Collins, President Sunshine RSL
Steve Lowe OAM – Vietnam Veteran and valued member VMA
Colonel Samuel Pho, Salvation Army
Kenny Tran, Secretary of ECCV
Be Ha OAM, President of SICMAA
Yen Bui OAM
Councillors Meca Ho and Ken Gomez – City of Yarra
Our VMA Advisory Board present – Dung Le, Professor Tien Kieu and Dr Phuc Nhan Pham
Katherine Ellis, CEO of Leadership Victoria, and members of the LV faculty.
Maria Dimopolous AM – CEO Settlement Centre of Australia
Members of the Dual Identity Leadership Board
Dr Bruce Wong, Foot Solutions
Richard Lim, Lim’s Pharmacy
Richard Lim OAM, Lim’s Pharmacy
Our VMA Board Directors, including our newly appointed Director Elizabeth Marsden
A very special mention to Johnny and My Ngoc Chang and the Glen Asian Grocer family, whose generous sponsorship has helped make this event possible, thank you for your continued support.
I’d also like to thank Sarah Connolly MP, Member for Laverton, who unfortunately was not able to attend, but has been such a big part of ensuring we could host our premiere in this beautiful and historic venue.
And tonight, I am especially moved to welcome Sandy and Samantha Marshall, the grandchildren of the late Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser. Their grandfather’s leadership and compassion changed the lives of so many Vietnamese people, including my own family. Sandy and Samantha, your presence here is not only an honour, it’s an example of how legacy is passed on through generations by the choices we make and the actions we take.
I also want to offer a very special thank you to Mark Osborne, the filmmaker, the man behind the camera, and someone I am now proud to call a friend. This documentary has been months in the making, and for many of our interviewees it was a deeply emotional journey. Mark’s patience, empathy and quiet compassion created a space where they felt safe enough to open their hearts and share their truths. Without him, Tự Do: Boats of Hope simply wouldn’t have been possible.
I’m always struck by how long and impressive our list of acknowledgements is. And while I know I’m usually the one standing between you and the meal, or in tonight’s case, the main event, it really shows the incredible support the Vietnamese Museum Australia continues to receive. In the interests of time, may I ask that my acknowledgements stand for all speakers who follow
The film you’ll see tonight, Tự Do: Boats of Hope, is about journeys. It tells a story that is relatable to many of us - the story of survival, of searching for freedom, and of the hope that carried Vietnamese refugees across the seas. But it is also an Australian story, about the generosity and compassion of the people and organisations who stood with us when we needed it most.
It’s about the courage of those who fled, the kindness of those who welcomed, and the responsibility we all share to keep these stories alive for future generations.
Thank you again for being here. Please enjoy the premiere.
