By Greg Ellis, Illawarra Mercury
Christmas got a little better for people in need this week when Wollongong’s Vietnamese community raised $22,310 at an appeal dinner in Dapto for victims of the NSW bushfires and typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines.
Chris Le, Teresa Tran, Edna Wilson, Quan Tran and Viet Do. Picture: GREG ELLIS
Within days of raising the money at the event attended by many of the city’s 500-strong Vietnamese community, the proceeds were handed to the St Vincent de Paul Society for people most in need.
Teresa Tran, of Teresa Tran & Associates, said the money was raised with the help of the Indochinese Aged Group in Wollongong.
Mrs Tran said the group was made up of pensioners but they still made a significant contribution.
“Quan Tran raised more than $4000 for our dinner by working very hard and knocking on doors,” she said.
And young members of the community, such as Chris Tran, waited tables for free.
Even the Vietnamese band and dancers performed for free and the Vietnamese caterer from Sydney donated all her profits.
“Although we are only a small group we try to do our bit to make a positive contribution to this region as much as we can,” Mrs Tran said.
Read the full story by Greg Ellis from Illawarra Mercury.
