Small Bamboo (34 page)

An exhilarating moment—patting lions at Seaview Lion Park, a South African conservation park in Port Elizabeth, with friend and cameraman Adam Bovino, 2012. I was there filming a story about lion tamer Tamblyn Williams.

Dad during one of his infusion treatments at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital in Perth, 2012. Always a happy patient.

The Channel Nine helicopter is always in the air. Flying over Sydney Harbour was a thrill, 2011.

Crossing live from outside the late Nelson Mandela’s home in Johannesburg, after his death, 2013.

My second year covering the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, 2011.

On the news desk back home, presenting Nine News Perth, in 2013. LIAM KYLE

I’m still with my beautiful girlfriends from high school days, Nichola (centre) and Pia, 2013.

They live so far away but we’ve never been closer—my dearest Sydney friends, in 2013, from left: Tom Stefanovic, Amelia Adams, me of course, Adam Bovino and Luke Adams.

The family back together for Dad’s fifty-eighth birthday, 2012. I had just moved back to Perth.

With my adopted family, the Vo ladies, in 2013. From left: Trinh, Trang, me and Diem.

With my family at Mount Lawley Bowling Club for my thirtieth birthday, 2013.

My parents and I all glammed up for a fashion event in Perth, 2013. MATTHEW TOMPSETT

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

First of all a huge thank you to the people who made this happen. My publisher, Claire Kingston, contacted me, asking if I had ever thought about writing a book. I said yes, but not for publication. Claire, you really didn’t have to say much to convince me. After just a couple of emails I was away, writing this memoir under your guidance. I would also like to thank my editor, Sarah Baker. Sarah, your patience and understanding of a journalist’s erratic schedule made this entire process much easier. I am overwhelmed with gratitude to you all, as well as the entire team at Allen & Unwin.

I would like to thank my Aunties and Uncles for being so patient with all my phone calls and emails as I gathered every little detail of their lives for this book.

Bac Ba (Uncle Three), thank you for those long hours sitting on the phone—me in Perth, you in Virginia, USA. The excitement in your voice as you recalled your years as a pilot for the South Vietnamese Air Force was a joy to hear. After all these decades, I can’t believe your incredible memory. Your willingness to share your story, which was sad at times, made the writing of this book much easier. Thank you for being such a wonderful ‘Godfather’ of the Vo family.

Bac Bay (Uncle Seven), I am so grateful we have been able to reconnect over Facebook. You’re in your seventies but you’re more tech-savvy than I am! You gave me a wonderful insight into Grandpa. Thank you for all those Facebook messages and emails detailing your love for him. Grandpa’s memory lives on through all of us.

Co Loan and Duong Hung (Aunt and Uncle Fifteen), you were both always by the phone in Melbourne and ready with answers to all my questions. You spent the longest time in Vietnam after all the family had left. Your memories of Uncle Four and Uncle Eleven after their release from the re-education camps was heartbreaking and I want to thank you for being able to share your stories.