Dr Quang Phu Ho is one of Australia's Obstetrician Gynecologist and Infertility Specialist recently got a prominent award for his service. But the journey that got him there was fraught with danger.
Born in Vietnam as one of ten children, his childhood memories were painted with strokes of the Vietnam War. Following that conflict and at the age of 18, he was conscripted into the army during the Vietnamese-Cambodian War where soldiers fought to liberate Cambodia from the Khmer Rouge regime.
By his early 20s, he had witnessed his fair share of conflict. But it was when he was given an order by a superior officer that his conscience would not allow him to follow, that he decided to leave that night.
Little did he know that his decision to flee through the jungle would mark the beginning of the rest of his life.
After leaving Cambodia, Quang was captured and taken to a forced labour camp to pay for his desertion.
He worked there for 16 months, clearing the jungle with his bare hands. During this time he fought off malaria and starvation. He made two attempts to flee but failed both times, which only made things worse. Fearing for his son's life, Quang's father decided to assist – but this time by leaving the country altogether. Quang’s father arranged for his son to flee by sea aboard a cramped and leaky fishing boat with more than 100 others, heading for an unknown destination.
Quang spent the next five days aboard the vessel, where passengers had to bear a strong storm with no food or water. On December 23, 1980, the boat docked in Malaysia and its passengers were sent to a refugee camp.
“The camp was very crowded and there was not enough food for all of us, but I actually had a good time there,” he shares.
“At least we knew we were safe and were waiting for the future. Freedom at last.”
The refugee camp, however, brought a different kind of challenge - the long waiting time.
“Everyone has hope that a country will accept you. You see people coming and leaving and wonder when will it be my turn? A lot of my friends spent years there. Just waiting and waiting.”
Quang was lucky. After just four months, he was accepted by Australia. When interviewed by an Australian immigration representative as to why he wanted to go to Australia, with minimal English skills, he said: “Australia has kangaroos.”
He arrived at Sydney airport in 1981 with nothing but a pair of Qantas socks.
A humanitarian organisation arranged for his accommodation and English language lessons.
Quang Phu Ho as a spray painter during the early 1980s in Sydney. Source: Supplied
“I remember one of my teacher’s names was Christine, whom I have shown my respect to by naming my first daughter after her. Her English was fantastic. I studied with her for two months and decided to drop out. I liked learning, but I needed to pay for my boat trip and to help my family, so I went to look for a job. Christine was very angry and begged me to stay, but I needed the money.”
Since Quang’s English was not very good, he struggled to find a job. Finally, he landed two factory jobs.
“The first one was a very horrible job. I stayed there for three months. Then I got a job as a spray painter at Comalco Windows and Doors, which was slightly better. We worked 16 hours a day for seven days a week but I made good money, so I stayed.”
Thanks to his work ethic, he was able to pay for five of his brothers to escape Vietnam and reunite with him in Australia.
Four years later, Quang went with his flatmate to sit for an exam to work at Australia Post. He got the job.
It would seem that he had finally made it. After years of uncertainty, he now achieved economic stability, a good job with reasonable working hours and, most importantly, he and his family were safe. But he was not happy: “I was bored.”
Quang purposely made a mistake at work, hoping to get fired. When the time came, he walked into his boss’ office expecting an angry reprimand. However, he encountered something completely different.
“My boss said ‘I think you’re the same age as my son. You remind me of him.’ He took me completely off-guard. This warm assessment was not what I was expecting. He asked me why I had done what I had done, and I felt compelled to tell him the truth. That I was bored. So he asked me what I wanted to do, and when I said I would like to go back to study, he offered to help me pay for my studies if I stayed. I was completely taken aback.”
Over the following few years, Quang studied at TAFE during the day and worked at night.
He finished his Higher School Certificate and at 28 years of age, enrolled at the University of NSW to study medicine. He then spent a further nine years in training to become an obstetrician and gynaecologist, specialising in fertility.
“My mother had nine children. I remember seeing her bedridden, suffering from complicated pregnancies, but somehow, she always found time to care for others. She taught me that the meaning of life is to help people," he says.
"So, if I can help other women not to suffer as my mother did, I am happy.”
For the past 20 years, Quang has delivered an average of five babies per week at his surgery and at Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital in Sydney. He also works at an IVF clinic and previously was a senior lecturer at South Western Sydney Clinical School. He also teaches medical students and doctors from Vietnam to improve healthcare for people living in poverty.
“I love teaching students and seeing how they learn. Lately, it’s becoming harder because I do not have a PhD and universities are asking for more and more publications and qualifications. But I hope in the future I can get more opportunities to share my knowledge. Who knows? After all, my life has been full of surprises. Life has taught me that even if you are good at something, you have to try harder. If I can help people in their lives, I am happy to do my work.”
Source: Supplied
Quang has been a recipient of numerous awards, including the UNSW Dean of Medicine Faculty’s award for Best Teaching, the UNSW Alumni Award for Innovation, Leadership and Community Services, and the South Western Sydney Clinical Dean award for contribution in teaching.
In June 2019, he was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for his service in obstetrics and gynaecology.
Hit ‘Play’ button to listen to the whole story in Vietnamese.
