I was first awarded an Order of Australia medal in 1991 for my service to the Chinese community. I continued to work for the migrant community and later for the City of Whitehorse as a councillor and as director of Eastern Health. I was the president of the Community Council on Ethnic Issues from 1989 to 1993 and campaigned to get the Migrant Information Centre in Box Hill in 1998.

There was a misconception that the eastern region is very rich and didn’t have many migrants, but I helped the government see there was a need for a migrant information centre. Nowadays, it’s in an office at the back of the Box Hill Town Hall and employs about 40–50 people.

I’ve been serving as a councillor for five terms, first in 1997, and twice as mayor. I was the director of Eastern Health from 2000 to 2009. I want to show how people feel about health services. I’ve been trying to help Box Hill traders and residents to get the best [from the] Box Hill Activity Centre.

When I first moved here, Box Hill was a little town. My aim has been to help create employment and a safe area for restaurants. It’s also important to make sure resident amenities are looked after.

I came to study in Australia in 1962 and I served in the Australian Defence Department and worked for the RAAF for 20-odd years before I retired.

How did I get into public life? Well, it was back in 1970s, I walked into some committee meeting and I saw it was a shambles. I thought: ‘‘there is a better way to do this.’’ I was the president and founder of the Chinese Social Services Centre Inc.(1992–1997) running settlement, housing and community care, and aged care package services.

I like to help people, because often migrants have troubles, they can’t find a house, so I will help find them a house. Or they might be lonely, so I set up the Box Hill Chinese Senior Citizens Club and helped the Immigration Department with settlement programs. I do this so they [migrants] can become good citizens and get a job one day.

I’m very thrilled but humble and grateful to the country, and I strive to give back to the community as much as I can. I’m very happy to be a Member of the AM. It acknowledges your contribution to the country. I want to work very hard to get positive impacts for the country and the community.