Born in Vietnam, but with roots in Hainan Province, China, Mr Tang's life journey has been marked by resilience and adaptability. His parents fled their hometown of Wenchang, Hainan, during a time of war and settled in Saigon, Vietnam, where he was born and raised. Despite a difficult childhood with limited food and clothing, Mr. Tang's family ensured he received a full education, ultimately graduating as an engineer.
Mr. Tang's perseverance and talent helped him excel as an engineer and polyglot, mastering English, Vietnamese, French, and self-taught Chinese. His linguistic skills led to working with a foreign company in Sai Gon as a machinery manager. Later, he was conscripted into the military, where his expertise earned him a commission as a Captain in the South Vietnamese Army.
At 19, Mr. Tang married and had two daughters. After the war, he was offered resettlement in France with his second wife, but chose to migrate to Australia by boat in 1975 with his youngest daughter to stay close to his daughters. Following a difficult journey and time in a refugee camp in Malaysia, they arrived in Australia, and their elder daughter joined them soon after. Now, Mr. Tang lives in Perth with his youngest daughter and receives loving care from his second daughter.
Thanks to his multilingual abilities, Mr. Tang adapted quickly to life in Australia and began working as an interpreter. He took great pride in this role, knowing that he helped others express what they could not do due to language barriers. As a former military officer, he has also benefited from Australian government support, which helped him connect with the migrant community and secure a stable life.
The Chung Wah Association (CWA) and Chung Wah Community Care (CWCC) hold a special place in Mr. Tang's heart. He has been involved with both organisations since their inception, particularly enjoying the day care services at the Balcatta Centre. "I love the food here; it's delicious and suits my vegetarian diet perfectly," he shared. Mr. Tang adopted a vegetarian lifestyle years ago for health reasons, and since then, his gout has significantly improved. Maintaining a healthy diet is the best medicine, enabling him to live a vibrant, independent life without becoming a burden to his family or community.
Even in retirement, Mr. Tang continues to serve as an interpreter, acting as a bridge between cultures and languages for many elderly clients at CWCC. His exceptional language skills enable him to facilitate conversations between elderly individuals from different cultural backgrounds and help staff and clients better understand each other's needs, improving the quality of care provided. Mr. Tang takes great pride in this role.
Now in his 80s, Mr. Tang remains healthy and lives independently. He enjoys cooking his favourite vegetarian dishes and lives by the philosophy: "Live charitably, be content, and at peace with one another."
