2006 Winners

Victor Chang Community Service Award

Winner, William Ho

William Ho founded the Parramatta Chinese Community Association and worked tirelessly to create a Chinese New Year Festival in Parramatta. His work for youth and the elderly won him the Citizen of the Year award from Parramatta City Council.

Mr Ho has been active in the community for ten years and, in recent years, his work has moved beyond Parramatta to the Eastwood and Holroyd council areas. His work with young people is aimed at keeping them off the streets by offering healthy alternative activities such as self defence, Lion Dancing and social networking. As a Tai Chi Master he has organised classes for older people in the middle of Parramatta for the last ten years. His social work has increased confidence and raised the quality of life for all involved. By encouraging multicultural participation in Chinese New Year festivals he has instilled in the broader community a sense of safety and harmony.

Master Ho has brought together parts of the Chinese community which had not previously been united and, according to his supporters, has bettered the quality of life for all those who have come into contact with him. They say acknowledging William Ho will encourage others within the Chinese community to take up voluntary service.

Jack Wong Sue Voluntary Service Beyond the Chinese Community

Winner, Stanley Chan Hunt

Mr Stanley Chan Hunt has been active in local and mainstream welfare and charitable contributions for the past twenty five years.

He has been the head of prominent Chinese and mainstream organisations for many years. This includes four years as President of the Australian Chinese Communities Association, two terms as President of the Chungshan Association, Chairman of the Auburn Rotary Club, Chairman of the Strathfield Bowling Club and Master of the Masonic Lodge of New South Wales.

Besides contributions to welfare and charity, Stanley Hunt has donated money to many local and Chinese Australians charities including the Australian Chinese Nursing Home. He has for a long time been one of the sponsor’s of the annual Senior Chinese Citizens Lunch which normally attracts around 400 people.

His work has been recongised with the Order of Australia Medal.

Quong Tart Lifetime Achievement Award

Winner, Charles Ching Chi Lee

Charles Lee has provided outstanding volunteer service to the Australian Chinese Community and the broader community by researching. writing and publishing a series of books on the history of Chinese Australians. His direct contribution to Australia through his books and articles have had a significant impact on the social and cultural well-being of the Chinse community in NSW. His writing has been prolific and his titles include The Cantonese in Australia, My Lee’s family in Australia, Chinese in Australia’s Armed Services and Australian Prime Minsters -  from Edmund Barton to R.J.Lee Hawke.

Mr Lee’s community service through his writing and publishing is significant in terms of his meticulous recoding of the history of people of Chinese background in Australia. This has lead to a great level of mutual understanding between Australians of Chinese backgrounds and those of other backgrounds.  This service has been voluntary and consistent over fifty years in Australia.

According to his fellow historians, Charles Lee has made contributions to multiculturalism and the harmony of the Australian society whilst also encouraging the younger generation of Chinese background to love their country and continue to make their full contribution to its welfare.

Young Chinese Volunteer Award

Winner, Katrina Banh

Katrina Banh is a talented young woman who has provided service to the Chinese community by promoting Chinese traditional culture to young people who have been brought up in the Australian environment. Her work recognises that it is sometimes difficult for young people to understand and appreciate their cultural background. She does this particularly through teaching Chinse language and dance. She also helps young people of Chinese background maximise their potential by running coaching classes in English and Mathematics within her Chinese Language School.

Katrina believes that children of Chinese background need to be expert in both English and Chinese so as to be able to make their greatest contribution to Australia. Katrina says that reaching out to Australian-born children is the most important aspect of our multicultural community because so many children get caught between cultures and may miss out on knowing the language and culture of their parents and ancestors.

Katrina’s talents at choreography and in training young dancers was recognised by the Art Gallery of New South Wales when she was invited in 2004 to coordinate a Chinese inspired dance for the opening of the new Asian Galleries.