For the past four years, Regina Mun Han Leung-Huning has worked to promote her Chinese heritage as part of Whittlesea Chinese Association.
She speaks with Laura Michell.
What suburb do you live in and how long have you lived there?
I have lived in Mill Park since 1986 with my two young children, who attended the St. Francis of Assisi Primary School.
What brought you to the area?
One of my good old nursing friends lived in Mill Park.
I came from down Bentleigh way, and I often came to the northern suburbs to visit her and her family.
When it was time to buy a place of permanence, I decided to settle in Mill Park.
What do you love about your community?
I love my children’s school community, my church community, the Chinese community, and beyond.
There is a strong sense of welcoming, of belonging, community support, multiculturalism and solidarity, which I am passionate about and enjoy.
I was actively involved with my children’s school activities.
After we settled down in Mill Park, I was on the planning, steering, building and fundraising committee group to help build the St Francis of Assisi church.
It was most challenging, yet rewarding and gratifying to see how much both [church and school] have grown today.
How long have you been involved with Whittlesea Chinese Association (WCA)?
I was elected vice president of the Whittlesea Chinese Association in August 2012 and served in that role until 2015.
I was then elected president.
It was quite amazing and has been wonderful to do some good voluntary work for the welfare and benefit of the Chinese community in Whittlesea.
I hope as president to continue preserving and sharing our Chinese heritage and our cultural values.
I also want to help incorporate these traditions into our Australian lives, and to build our place in the city of Whittlesea.
In doing so, I hope to show our younger generations how to be proud of their migrant past, as they embrace their future in the peaceful, diverse and tolerant Australian society to which we belong.
How many members does WCA have?
I have a dedicated committee team of 12 members and, overall, the WCA has had 306 members since formation in June 2006.
However, in 2015, only 208 renewed their membership due to members leaving the municipality over the years.
Some moved to other suburbs and states, some returned to China and a few have sadly passed away.
We have life members who are more than 90 years old.
What does WCA do?
WCA meets every Wednesday, except during school holidays, at Thomastown library.
There is weekly Tai Chi, karaoke, dancing, singing, cooking demonstrations, games, day trips and health presentations.
We offer lots of support, care and visits to older members in aged care.
My committee members work together in building friendships to help the elderly and disadvantaged in our community overcome feelings of isolation and loneliness.
Each year, we celebrate the Mooncake mid-autumn festival in September.
This year’s celebration is Saturday, September 10, at Epping Memorial Hall, 827 High Street, Epping, from 7-9.30pm.
Details: bit.ly/2as5Rbm
