As one of the seniors actively participating in CWCC's Balcatta HUB, Ms. Phan openly shares her joy and pride in her passions for knitting, embroidery, gardening, and exercise. She maintains these hobbies daily to ensure a healthy, happy, independent, confident, and contributing senior life for herself and her community.
Born and raised in a large family of 15 siblings, Ms. Phan completed her education up to the 10th grade. During that time, education for women was considered high, as many of her peers did not have the opportunity to attend school. Her father, a teacher, endeavoured to provide the best education for his children. He encouraged Ms Phan to learn cooking and embroidery, envisioning these skills as valuable assets for managing a household and caring for young children. Through these additional lessons, Ms Phan developed a love for knitting and embroidery.
When she was 20, Ms Phan married a technical teacher, and they shared a deep and loving relationship, raising three children (two daughters and a son) despite the challenges of living during wartime. When the South of Vietnam fell in 1975, her family faced difficulties as her husband lost his job, and their home was confiscated. However, they soon regained their home, and her husband resumed teaching. Around ten years later, during the border-crossing movement, her son successfully reached Australia in 1986. In 1991, Ms. Phan and her husband, along with their youngest daughter, reunited with their son. Their second daughter also joined them shortly after that.
Once settled in Australia, Ms Phan's family gradually stabilized. Her husband found work in a carpentry workshop while she took a break from employment, focusing on supporting her daughter and son in caring for their young children. Currently, all of Ms Phan's children are married and have stable jobs. Her husband passed away in 2019, leading her to live with her youngest daughter's family for more accessible support in caring for her young children.
In her later years, with more time on her hands, Ms. Phan revisited her passions for embroidery and gardening. Although her eyesight has diminished at the age of 80, preventing her from continuing embroidery work, she continues to knit scarves, hats, and sweaters. Ms Phan creates these items for all family members, even for grandchildren yet to be born. Additionally, she generously gifts her creations to fellow seniors at the Balcatta Hub and to the monks and nuns at the temple. Some seniors have expressed a desire to learn similar skills from Ms Phan, bringing her great joy as she shares her expertise and helps them find happiness in knitting.
Speaking of her gardening hobby, Ms Phan considers it a form of meditation that nurtures her soul, bringing tranquillity to her mind. Whenever she tends to her plants, she lovingly cares for each branch and blade of grass, engaging in conversations with them, ensuring they blossom and bear fruit. She particularly enjoys sharing the fruits and vegetables she grows with fellow seniors at the Balcatta Hub, believing that sharing what she has is the best way to nurture her soul and maintain mental and physical well-being.
Ms Phan also expresses a keen interest in exercise. She enjoys attending activities at the Balcatta Hub, participating in morning exercises, and playing table tennis. These exercises significantly contribute to maintaining her daily health.
As the new year begins, Mrs. Phan wishes all seniors abundant health, happiness, and the discovery of joy and passion in life. She continues to actively share her passions, joy, and happiness with fellow seniors and those around her, embodying the theme for 2024 at CWCC: "Advance with the Time, Embrace the Future".
