It was the summer of 1992 when my family – mother, brother and 15-year-old me – arrived in Sydney. I took my first tentative steps out of this gigantic glass doors at the airport and walked into my new life. In the car, I marvelled at the seatbelts. In our new home, I enjoyed the sensation of the soft carpet underneath my feet. In school, I devoured the limitless books in the library.

Everyday, this beautiful nation offered me a little present. The cool breeze. Fresh oranges in the local fruit market. Chocolate milk in a carton called ‘Moove’! So good there are two ‘o’s in it. More than 30 years on since the day we came to Australia, I still feel a deep sense of gratitude for all the opportunities I have enjoyed and the opportunities ahead.

Living here has shaped me into an individual who knows the value of hard work, honesty and integrity. I am driven to being the best I can be for my family, my community and my adopted country. Since the pandemic began, Australia has taught me that the best way we can live our lives and come out of a crisis is to always look out for each other.