Daffodil Day

Chinese volunteers joining forces with the local community to help a good cause

People of Chinese background have a special love of daffodils. These golden flowers are often part of annual Lunar New Year celebrations. During that special time, people tie a red ribbon around a pot of daffodils and add a red hui chun note with the message: Good fortune arrives as flowers bloom. Daffodils, flowering early in the season, are believed to bring luck and peace, new life and hope.

Bright yellow “Western” daffodils are different from those grown in China. In Australia in August, as spring begins and the flowers bloom, the Cancer Council organises its fundraising Daffodil Day.  Flowers and souvenirs are sold to raise funds for this worthy cause.  This is an activity widely supported by the Australian community.  Volunteers can be seen all over the country selling fresh daffodils  in public places, and businesses such as supermarkets and petrol stations join in.

CASS has been supporting Daffodil Day for many years. Souvenirs are displayed and sold at our Head Office and among our different Activity Groups. In 2012, eight of our volunteers joined forces with others to sell flowers at Hurstville Station, contributing their time and energy to this good cause.

By seven in the morning, four CASS volunteers had already arrived at the station to join other dedicated volunteers. Stationery and teddy bears were also on offer, but the star was of course the bunches of fresh daffodils.

Most of our volunteers were seniors, but their work was just as productive as that of younger volunteers. Many Chinese Australians use the station and our volunteers could communicate easily with them in fluent Cantonese or Mandarin. When greeting travellers, they charmed them with lovely smiles and Good Morning in their first language. They were able to explain to potential customers the meaning and benefits of what they were doing. And their hard work paid off.

The meaning of volunteers’ involvement cannot simply be measured by sales. There was a palpable sense of pride among our volunteers. One volunteer spoke of how thankful she was for the opportunity to give back to the community. She had come to Australia from Hong Kong only three years ago. When she first arrived, she had felt lonely and isolated because of not being fluent in English, so unable to understand what was happening around her. Every day when family members went to work or school, she was left alone.

By chance, she attended one of CASS Activity Group meetings, and her life began to change. She met new friends and her social network expanded. Talks organised by the Group gave her information on health, and revealed how she could become involved in community activities. Her life has now become much more fulfilling. On Daffodil Day, she was so excited she got up at six in the morning and was the first volunteer to arrive at the station. After a hard morning’s work, she was exhausted, but also flushed with pride, elated because she at last felt genuinely part of the Australian community.

Now she is no longer isolated. She is a true Australian citizen, working hand in hand with others to make a valuable contribution to health in her new country.

Next August, when the daffodils bloom again, we hope many other members of the Chinese Australian community will come out and help support this vital cause.

Originally published in September 2012

CASS volunteers selling daffodils at Hurstville Station

When In Australia, Do As The Aussies Do

Learn the social etiquete and be a read Australian

It has been suggested that a community organisation like CASS could arrange a course for new migrants to teach them the customs and manners of Australia. This is a good idea, since Australian community workers and volunteers sometimes find the behaviour of the Chinese community difficult to understand. Timely advice could prevent misunderstandings based on ignorance or cultural differences. Other unacceptable behaviours may be the result of bad habits accumulated over time which could be changed through better understanding ofsocial etiquette in the new country.

When CASS originally collaborated with Australian community organisations, they would often offer tea and refreshments to all participants. The expectation was that everyone would share what was on offer. Now Chinese organisations often decline to provide English tea during activities, saying that Chinese prefer Chinese tea. The truth is more embarrassing. When milk was provided for adding to English tea, some Chinese would instead pour themselves whole cups, leaving others with none. To avoid this situation, CASS has stopped providing milk.

On occasions when refreshments were served, those at the front of the queue would pile their plates. By the time the end of the queue was reached, there was no food left. In Australia, light refreshments are considered a form of morning or afternoon tea, not providing for a full meal. However, some participants were not only eating as a meal- they were resorting to “takeaway” as well.

Many years ago, we witnessed the unfortunate scene of a group of seniors fighting over food. After a community safety talk organised by a Council, refreshments were provided. Instead of queueing to get food, participants pushed and shoved, overturning plates and spilling food everywhere. Organisers were helpless. The Council had to call in their cleaning staff with vacuum cleaners and other equipment to tidy up the venue. After that incident, food is now distributed to individuals by volunteers whenever an activity group organises parties or functions.

Another problem faced by community organisations is getting audiences to pay attention during official ceremonies. No matter who the VIPs are, people continue talking when the guests are speaking. Many people who have attended activities organised by Chinese organisations describe this is a continuing problem which does not fit well with normal practice here. During official ceremonies, it is important to show respect for honoured guests by listening to what they have to say.

As migrants, we know that in most Chinese cities, homes are small, making it difficult to invite family and friends in groups. People generally gather at restaurants to network, and have a habit of talking loudly and freely in public places as the surroundings are noisy. People in Australia, however, value privacy, and believe that it is important to minimise disturbance to others while at public venues.

A CASS worker remembers how, at a consultation aimed at improving community life, an Australian attendant expressed her displeasure in seeing people spitting in public places, and some elderly people letting their small grandchildren urinate in the street. Both are unhygienic practices. The worker felt so embarrassed she wished there was somewhere to hide.

Originally published in May 2011

It is common practice for Aussies to have refreshments at the end of a function to facilitate networking among participants

The Resilient Gardener

Henry Pan – a man without sight yet full of vision

On 8 January 2006, the Foundation Chairperson of CASS, Henry Pan, was attacked while helping a disadvantaged member in her home. Without warning, a thug violently attacked Henry and, in less than a minute, blinded him. Ever since he has been living in a world of darkness.

Many people were horrified at this tragic misfortune and bewailed Henry’s loss of sight. Many offered their help. But not everyone. A small group within the management of CASS asked, “Can a disabled man lead CASS to its next stage, building on our last 25 years?” Some began to spread rumours about Henry’s capability, using this chance to rob him of his Chairperson role. He was devastated, both physically and emotionally, by this treatment.

Some people would continue to blame fate for its merciless blow. Facing the brutal reality of the greatest challenge of his life, Henry stood firm, sustained by unflinching willpower. He may have lost his sight, but he used his ears, his heart and his brain to make sense of his new dark environment. He used special software to control the keyboard to access his computer, typed, sent emails and listened to news on the Internet, just like everyone else.

For Henry, a further challenge was resolving the internal conflicts within CASS. He was heartened that people rallied around him, with a group of CASS and other community members organising a gathering, Community Spirit of Henry Pan, with over 500 people attending to celebrate his achievements and contributions.

Afterwards, Australian government officials and successive Chinese

Ambassadors and Consul-Generals conveyed their warmest concern.

The Australian Council of Chinese Organisations presented him with

an award in recognition of his achievements. In 2007, at a Lunar

New Year function, he was presented with the Quong Tart Lifetime

Achievement Award in Community Service by the then NSW Premier

Morris Iemma.

In December 2007, the persistence of Henry and loyal CASS members finally paid off. A new Board was elected at the Annual General Meeting. While Henry had no wish to take the Chairperson position again, he continued to offer his skills, talents, vast experience and expert knowledge as a volunteer, to help the organisation further its development. With Leng Tan, Peng Bai, Bo Zhou, Dominic Sin, Peter Fong, Louise Wu, Tao Bai and Chuck Hong working as a team, CASS recovered gradually.

Henry’s soul glows. He often has his wonderful wife by his side, lovingly taking care of him. Mrs Pan takes Henry to work and quietly supports him. Together, the couple has contributed to CASS for as long as it has operated. CASS has become their second home. Seeing Henry and his wife holding hands as they walk through the gate of CASS, people are touched by the serenity of the couple and their sacrifice.

Henry’s work takes no account of day and night: he simply keeps going. He has high expectations for CASS. It is not uncommon for colleagues to receive emails from him in the middle of the night. While everyone else is enjoying a good night’s sleep, Henry is still working.  He wants to use every minute. While he has a huge workload, he is highly efficient, causing people around him to forget his disability. He never asks for remuneration; instead, he pays for his lunch and never claims for transport expenses. He even pays his own phone bill.

Henry says he lives a simple life with few needs. While people describe him as the architect of CASS, he counters that he considers himself a hard-working gardener. He is now surrounded by admirers and supporters and has worked with this team to formulate a blueprint for the development of CASS for the next decade.

Henry might lack sight, but he is a visionary. He is relentless in his pursuit of his goals, aided by his intellect and wisdom, his exceptional memory, his extensive knowledge, his unwavering persistence, and his positive attitude towards life. He will not be beaten by tragedy brought by fate, and never stops believing in the value and meaning of what he is doing. He fights against all odds and battles upstream.

Those around him are in awe of his indomitable spirit. He is indeed a great role model, for all at CASS, his children and grandchildren and the community.

The concerted efforts of CASS leaders have paid off. Like a beautiful garden, CASS is flourishing, full of colour and vitality.

Originally published in January 2011

Former NSW Premier Morris Iemma presenting the Quong Tart Lifetime Achievement Award in Community Service to Henry Pan, accompanied by his wife, in 2007