China’s Transition from Old Communism to New Capitalism
Ching Chong China Girl
From White to Multicultural Australia
ABC to Z of Racism Down Under
Love and Loss
A Journey through Grief
A Tasmanian Chinese Heritage
Women Past, Present and Future
Shouting from China
An Alien in the Motherland
A Reporter’s Tale
From Tasmanian Tiger to Panda Bear
Hamish: Well I’m going to share a clip from ABC News. It’s up on iView and YouTube – about Helene Chung, who became Australia’s first woman of colour on Australian TV News, and was sent by the ABC to Beijing, or Peking, as it was then known. She says she was the last Australian correspondent reporting from Peking. Fascinating story. I know you ...
Geraldine: Yes, I worked with Helene. Helene was really something. And she was a gutsy person, very cool, reserved. And when I saw that I just went ... Look, I sort of knew it in theory. But I thought what have you been through to get where you are? Well, now I know.
Hamish: It’s just a really beautiful segment. It only takes 7 and 1/2 minutes. But I really encourage listeners to view.
Geraldine: Very powerful
“Helene Chung is a confident, precise and captivating public communicator. All the years in radio and television have invested her with real charm and persuasiveness… She confirmed this during a panel discussion I chaired on the experience of ABC correspondents in Beijing.”
“When she spoke, the entire room fell silent. Everyone’s attention instantly centred on her. Her presence and speech is calm yet incredibly powerful – the kind of quiet strength that fills a room without raising a voice.”
“Helene speaks as she writes – with crystal clarity, sensitivity to her audience, a firm grasp of her subject, and always a touch of humour.”
“A cracker-jack presentation – a perfect blend of history and autobiography.”
“A thoughtful, candid and inspiring talk. A magnificent and articulate woman willing to share the personal.”
“With China emerging as a world power, Ms Chung’s detailed knowledge of the country, its politics and its people comes across in her articulate and amusing presentation, during which she engages with her audience in a relaxed and informal way. I have not heard better in the 25 years that I was based in Asia.”
“Your presentation was so interesting, very topical, very entertaining and well presented. You were very relaxed and responded well to our audience and their questions. We had fabulous feedback from our clients who thoroughly enjoyed your presentation.”
“A provocative, stirring and pertinent story. Interesting and engaging, especially for students who may not be so aware of the level of prejudice that migrants encounter.”
“A thoroughly professional presentation … I wish the lessons I sat through at school on modern Chinese history had been half as interesting and engaging.”