50 years of Australia’s Vietnamese community

Hieu Van le is one of the most distinguished former Vietnamese refugees who have made Australia home.

In 2014 he was sworn in as Governor of South Australia after a career in business, finance and economics.

Mr Le arrived in Darwin by boat in 1977 and was the first Asian migrant to rise to the position of governor in any state in Australia.

At the time, he said: “It is an acknowledgement of all migrants and refugees, and their families and descendants who have built South Australia into this place, one of the best in the world.”

In appointing Mr Le, the then Premier Jay Weatherill said it was historic that South Australia was appointing the first person of Asian descent to such a role in Australia.

He said Mr Le was a remarkable man who had made an impressive contribution to the nation since his arrival by boat from war-torn Vietnam.

“This appointment is not just about breaking down barriers, important though that may be, it is about the life of an extraordinary man,” he said.

“It is about his past, his present and his future role as Governor of our state.

“Symbols are fine as long as they’re backed up with substance and Hieu Van Le is very definitely a person of substance.”

Mr Le was previously the Lieutenant Governor and chairperson of the South Australian Multicultural and Ethnic Affairs Commission.

He has worked in finance and business after gaining an economics degree at Adelaide University.

Mr Le said he was honoured by his appointment, and given his troubling childhood in a war-torn country, would be an advocate of peace.

“I feel I have been given so much and most of all I have been given the opportunity to give something back,” he said.

“Because I have been a victim of war and conflict, I would be an advocate for peace, friendship and cooperation.”

During his timer as Governor, Mr Le offered support for Afghan refugees in the same way he was welcomed to this country from Vietnam decades ago.

“Looking at the television news in the last few weeks and seeing the situation in Kabul in Afghanistan brings back so many sad memories to us,” he said at the time.

“I have a deep, strong feeling of what the people there are going through, so I wish the world will look into this with a very generous and receptive view.

“They need help, and we need to provide them with whatever help that we can,” he said.

Mr Le was born in born in Quang Tri in central Vietnam in 1954.

He and his wife Lan arrived on a boat from Vietnam 47 years ago.

Their two sons, Don and Kim, are named after Australian cricketers Don Bradman and Kim Hughes.

Mr Le holds a degree in economics and accountancy and a master’s degree in business administration from Adelaide University.

He was a member of the Certified Practising Accountants and was a senior manager of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission until he retired in early 2009.

He is a patron and member of more than 30 community organisations and was appointed as an Officer in the Order of Australia on Australia Day in 2010.

Mr Le has been awarded the Australia Day Medal for outstanding service to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission and he holds the Australian Centenary Medal ‘for service to the advancement of multiculturalism in Australia’.

Adelaide University awarded him an honorary doctorate for service to society in 2008 and Flinders University bestowed an honour in 2011.