Parra News 26 October 2021

LOCAL NEWS
A leader for the future
New AMSA President wants to create “home away from home” for expats
NICOLA BARTON
The Australian Malaysian
Singaporean Association
(AMSA) has appointed
its 23rd president, Lidcombe
resident Thomson Ch’ng.
Mr Ch’ng first arrived in
Australia in 2009 as an international
student and has since
been a voice and advocate for
multiculturalism in Australia.
Mr Ch’ng was a founding
delegate and the fourth
National President of Australia’s
international student peak
body – Council of International
Students Australia (CISA)
representing over 600,000 international
students nation-wide.
He was also a youth advisory
committee member of the
Federation of Ethnic Communities’
Council of Australia
(FECCA), a convenor of the
Asian Australian Alliance and
has won many awards and
honours for his contribution to
the multicultural community in
Australia.
In March, he featured in the
Australian National Maritime
Museum’s ‘A Mile in My Shoes’, a
project that celebrates the voices
of migrants who have made
Australia their home.
Mr Ch’ng said he felt honoured
to be elected President of AMSA.
“I wish to thank all members
for entrusting me with this
great responsibility to lead the
association,” he said.
“Half a century is an incredible
milestone for any organisation
and I would like to thank all
members, supporters, committee
members and presidents of
both past and present for their
contribution, bringing AMSA to
where it is today.”
Mr Ch’ng said community
groups like AMSA play a vital
role in allowing multicultural
communities to feel safe and
supported whilst studying or
working in Australia.
His vision is to create a “home
away from home” for all Malaysians
and Singaporeans in
Australia.
According to the Australian
Bureau of Statistics’ (ABS) 2016
Census, there were 138,364
Malaysia-born people and
54,939 Singapore-born people
in Australia.
“The people-to-people link
between Malaysia, Singapore
and Australia is deep and has
come a long way,” Mr Ch’ng said.
“Malaysians and Singaporeans
are success stories of Australia’s
multiculturalism.
“We look forward to deepening
the relationship and contributing
to Australia’s fabric of multicultural
society.”
Mr Ch’ng thanked outgoing
President Colin Lee, committee
members Rebecca Lee, Bun
Leng Chea and Amelia Seow
for their contributions over the
years.
The Executive Committeeelect
will be officially inaugurated
on January 1, 2022.
PN46629
Lidcombe resident Thomson Ch’ng.
NOMINATIONS OPEN
City of Parramatta Citizen of the Year Awards 2022
Do you know a local hero in the Parramatta Local Government
Area who deserves to be celebrated?
Nominations for City of Parramatta’s Citizen of the Year Awards
are now open.
These awards are part of Council’s Australia Day program and the
award categories are:
• Young Citizen of the Year in honour of David Shakespeare OAM:
16–30 years
• Citizen of the Year: 31–64 years
• Senior Citizen of the Year: 65 years and over
• Community Group Award
Nominations close 5pm, Thursday 2 December 2021.
EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST
Council is also seeking Expressions of Interest (EOI) in voluntary
Membership of the Awards Judging Panel, responsible for the
review, assessment, and selection of City of Parramatta Citizen
of the Year Award recipients for each of the categories.
Expressions of Interest close 4pm, Monday 8 November 2021.
To submit your nomination or EOI for the judging panel, visit
cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au/citizen-of-the-year-awards
cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au
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parra news » Tuesday, October 26, 2021
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