Thang's Lunar New Year Memories

Memories are wonderful because you don’t always remember the exact details, but you’ll always keep the feelings and emotions of the time.

My last "Tet" (Lunar New Year) in Vietnam in 1975, was both one of the happiest and saddest memories of my life.

Very much like Christmas, Tet is a time of family re-union, when relatives from near and far would come to our house to celebrate.

As a child of eight, I was looking forward to receiving from all of the adults my "li si", a small red envelope containing money - its traditionally a way of wishing luck and prosperity to the recipient.

I knew Mum had put aside an outrageous amount each week for my li si to make this Tet the best ever.

Li si, wearing special new clothes, eating the best food and playing with my cousins were literally heaven on earth for a child of eight.

The sadness came two months later when we left everything to escape from Vietnam as refugees with only the clothes on our backs.

My two sisters were left behind. It was the last time I ever saw both my grandparents. They died a few years later, half from old age, half from heartbreak.

As a child of eight, I had to grow up - and quickly, as our family faced poverty, heartbreak and the greatest pain of all - separation from loved ones.

This year, Tet falls on February 5 and marks exactly 25 years since my last Tet in Vietnam.

For the Year of the Dragon Tet, I hope everyone shares my Tet happiness with none of the sadness.

My new year wish for everyone is that we can all have peace, cherish our families and friends and enjoy health and happiness.

Councillor Thang Ngo