Mill Park resident Regina (Mun Han) Leung-Huning has been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for her service to the Whittlesea community.
Ms Leung-Huning said she felt humble when she found out about her OAM.
“It was an enormous, amazing, rejoicing surprise.”
She said her loved ones, especially her son and daughter will be very proud when they find out.
“They would say ‘mamma you deserve the award and must accept it’.”
She said she is the most proud of her nursing career, working in the emergency department and operating theatre.
Ms Leung-Huning moved from her home in Hong Kong to the United Kingdom, spending nine years studying and working in nursing.
She also spent one year working in the United States before coming to Australia in 1976.
“I retired almost 15 years ago, how time flies,” she said.
Ms Leung-Huning said she has enjoyed local volunteering since moving to Mill Park as a single mum in 1986.
“[I helped organise] fundraising to build our church … and the church community at large.”
From 1989-1999 she was the chairperson for the St Francis of Assisi parish fete.
She still leads a family group at the church, who invited her to spend Australia day with them.
“What a coincidence … I will have to share my exciting good news with them after my family,” she said.
Ms Leung-Huning said her children are her tower of strength, supporting her through her work in the church and the Whittlesea Chinese Association (WCA).
Ms Leung-Huning was vice-president of WCA from 2013-2015 and president for eight years (2015-2023).
“I organised weekly activities like outings, indoor games, tai chi, singing and dancing.”
Ms Leung-Huning is now the honorary president, still visiting the sick and elderly and advocating for their needs.
“They need free transport to take them to fun activities… to enjoy the day with good company.”
She said she was inspired to volunteer and advocate because of her mother and teachers.
“They inspired me to help the sick, the less fortunate… the old and lonely… and so on.”
