My parents first heard about Australia from an Australian missionary in Pusan in the 60s and were inspired to hear about this distant Utopia.

In 1971, we left the ‘Land of Morning Calm’, on an exciting adventure to the ‘Lucky Country’.

There were some tough times in the early years- my dad had to study a further two years for his engineering degree to be recognised in Australia. Meanwhile my new baby sister was sent back to Korea to live with relatives while we established ourselves.

As the only Asian in primary school- I felt like an alien. I remember being asked if my small eyes could only see half of what they could see. I must have looked strange to them as this was during the naïve, pre-internet days and only just post White Australia policy.

Four decades on, I am married to the son of a Dutch immigrant with 3 gorgeous boys. Australia has evolved into a rich tapestry of cultures from all over the globe. One thing hasn’t changed however- Australia is still the ‘Lucky Country’.