Tổng Toàn Quyền - SA Ngày 01.09.2014
Vợ chồng VTKhanh (CTKD8 ) -
... Quan khách tụ tập trước phòng tiếp tân của Adelaide Convention Centre
Từ Trái : Anh chị Đoàn Công Chánh Phú Lộc (CTKD1), Anh Triệu (CTKD1),
Lê Văn Hiếu (CTKD10) và phu nhân, vợ chồng VTKhanh (CTKD8)
và vợ chồng Trang Kim Teng (CTKD9)
Tiếp Tân ban đêm tại Goverment House Adelaide ( Dinh Toàn Quyền)
Phó Chủ Tịch CĐNVTD - SA
Former refugee Hieu Van Le sworn in as South Australia's governor during official ceremony
Former Vietnam refugee Hieu Van Le has been sworn in as
South Australia's new Governor at an official ceremony at the Adelaide
Convention Centre.
The ceremony was capped off with a 19-gun vice regal salute from the riverbank.Mr Le arrived in Darwin by boat in 1977 and is the first Asian migrant to rise to the position of governor in any state in Australia.
"It is an acknowledgement of all migrants and refugees, and their families and descendants who have built South Australia into this place, one of the best in the world," Mr Le said.
Premier Jay Weatherill said it was historic that South Australia was appointing the first person of Asian descent to such a role in Australia.
But he said Mr Le was a remarkable man who had made an impressive contribution to the nation since his arrival by boat from war-torn Vietnam.
"This appointment is not just about breaking down barriers, important though that may be, it is about the life of an extraordinary man," he said.
"It is about his past, his present and his future role as Governor of our state.
"Symbols are fine as long as they're backed up with substance and Hieu Van Le is very definitely a person of substance."
Mr Le was previously the Lieutenant Governor and chairman of the South Australian Multicultural and Ethnic Affairs Commission.
He has worked in finance and business after gaining an economics degree at Adelaide University.
Mr Le spoke about South Australia's remarkable history and said the state had the ability to play a bigger role in the country.
"Whether it be mediocrity of purpose, mediocrity of ideas or moral mediocrity, it should be said, in the past we have punched above our weight," Mr Le said.
"It is now time for us to accept we have weight and all the responsibilities that it implies."
Mr Le said he was honoured by his appointment, and given his troubling childhood in a war-torn country, would be an advocate of peace.
"I feel I have been given so much and most of all I have been given the opportunity to give something back," he said.
"Because I have been a victim of war and conflict I would be an advocate for peace, friendship and cooperation."
Hieu Van Le AO
- Now 60, he was born in Quang Tri in central Vietnam in 1954
- He is married to Lan, who arrived with him on a boat from Vietnam 36 years ago
- They have two sons, Don and Kim, who they named after Australian cricketers Don Bradman and Kim Hughes
- Mr Le holds a degree in economics and accountancy and a Masters Degree in Business Administration from Adelaide University
- He is a member of the Certified Practising Accountants and from 1991 was a senior manager of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission until he retired in early 2009
- He is a patron and member of more than 30 community organisations
- Mr Le was appointed as an Officer in the Order of Australia on Australia Day in 2010
- He has been awarded the Australia Day Medal for outstanding service to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission
- He holds the Australian Centenary Medal 'for service to the advancement of multiculturalism in Australia'
- Adelaide University awarded him an honorary doctorate for service to society in 2008 and Flinders University bestowed an honour in 2011
Hieu Van Le AO
Mr Hieu Van Le A.O. - Biography
Lieutenant Governor of South Australiaand Chairman of the South Australian Multicultural and Ethnic Affairs Commission (SAMEAC)
Hieu Van Le arrived in Australia in 1977 as one of the “boat people” from Vietnam.
He has gained a degree of Bachelor of Economics and Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Adelaide University.
He is a member of the Certified Practising Accountants (CPA) and from 1991 has worked at the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). He held the position of Senior Manager – Financial Services Regulation until his early retirement from ASIC in March 2009.
Hieu has been the Chairman of SAMEAC since 2007.
In August 2007, Hieu Van Le was sworn in as the Lieutenant Governor of South Australia. It is understood that Mr Le is the first Vietnamese-born person who has ever been appointed to a Vice Regal position in the world.
Hieu Van Le is a Member or Trustee of the following Boards and Committees:
South Australia's Community Engagement Board
- Research Centre for Languages and Cultures - University of South Australia
- The Alumni Advisory Committee of the Adelaide University
- The Education Adelaide Board
- The Adelaide Festival Trust Board
- National Centre for Child Protection – Fundraising Board – University of South Australia
Mr Hieu Van Le is the Patron of the following organisations:
- United Nations Association (South Australia Division) Inc.
- Migrant Resource Centre of South Australia
- Australian Chinese Medical Association
- Hong Kong Australia Business Association
- Chinatown Adelaide Inc.
- Ethnic Schools Association of SA
- Overseas Chinese Association
- Australian-Tanzanian Services Foundation Inc.
- Adelaide Festival Centre's OzAsia Festival
- Churchill Fellowship Association
- Multicultural Festival of South Australia Inc.
- Norwood Greek Festival
- SA Anti Poverty Week
- Malaysian Club of SA
- African Communities Council of SA
- Vietnam Veterans’ Federation SA Chapter
- Chinese Welfare Services of SA Inc.
- Campania Sports and Social Club (Sons of Italy)
- Vietnamese Literature and Arts Association in South Australia
- Friends of the Vietnamese Invalid Veterans Association
- Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia SA
- Australian Hellenic Education Progressive Association
- Rotary International Club - Adelaide South
- The White Ribbon Foundation
- Australian Refugee Association
- Adelaide Convention Bureau
- He was appointed as an Officer in the Order of Australia (A.O.) - on Australia Day 2010
- Australia Day Medal for outstanding service to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission
- Australian Centenary Medal "for service to the advancement of multiculturalism in Australia” in 2001
- "Golden Achiever of the Year" awarded by the Chinese Chamber of Commerce SA in 2008
- Honorary Doctorate for service to the society – awarded by the University of Adelaide in 2008
- Honorary Doctorate for significant contribution to society – awarded by Flinders University in 2011
- Paul Harris Fellowship- awarded by the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International in 2009
