Melbourne, Australia, 1996

‘For you, Trang. The Prime Minister’s Office.’ Trang took the phone, wondering which of her friends was playing a practical joke. Then a voice, strangely familiar. ‘I’ve called to offer the best gig going in Australia right now,’ John Howard said. ‘I’d like you to serve on the Council for the Centenary of Federation.’ Trang was momentarily speechless. She quickly rallied, accepting the appointment and thanking the PM. Her schedule was overcrowded as always, but to decline such an opportunity to serve was unthinkable. Yet she struggled to come to grips with the PM’s invitation. The holder of Australia’s highest political office had called personally to recruit her to a position of great honour. Why her? Yes, she was already a high achiever in both academia and public office. Her successes had raised her profile, especially as a representative of multicultural interests. But this appointment was a much broader recognition. It told her that she had made the transition from successful immigrant to eminent Australian.

Peter Nolan