Refugee, President of Amnesty at Brigidine, Human Rights Lawyer working in Cambodia and the Northern Territory
Extract from Awards and Acknowledgement Evening Speech Oct 2017
What a great honour, privilege and pleasure it was, to be invited to Brigidine College’s Award Evening 2017. When I was first approached to speak at the function, I was incredulous – I thought, “what a random blast from the past!”
But I was also excited at the thought of coming back – of the prospect of taking a walk down memory lane – and, of looking at the future. When I say, “looking at the future”, I’m literally referring to students. Cliched as it sounds – it is true – they are the future leaders; and future agents of change and influence.
Brigidine College is a place where I’ve had some of the most memorable times of my life. Some of my memories are as clear as though 1999 were yesterday. The closest friendships I’ve maintained are those formed at Brigidine.
The theme at Brigidine in 2017 was “Courage to…[Be]”. I thought, “I would make that the theme of my speech.
In my endeavour to define “courage”, I reflected that courage is often found in the most unusual of places. But one must get to that place first. Or perhaps it is courage that leads a person to that place.