澳中企业家俱乐部主席致贺湖南会第十届理事会就职典礼发言
Editor's Note: We are pleased to publish the inspiring speech delivered by Richard Yuan, Honorary President of the Australia Hunan Association, at the Dragon Boat Festival Celebration Dinner. Mr. Yuan's address highlights the rich cultural heritage and bold spirit of the Hunanese people, as well as the significance of the Dragon Boat Festival in fostering community unity and reflection. His speech underscores the importance of fearless advocacy and leadership, illustrated through personal anecdotes and his ongoing efforts to strengthen Australia-China relations. We hope our readers find his words as motivating and enlightening as we did.
(Photo Credit: Dongdong YANG)
Dear Madam Sally Sitou Member of Parliament, Madam Helen Sham Ho, our proud first ever Chinese MP, Mr. Yan Hu, Consul from People's Republic of China, Ms. Ashley Deng, president of Australia Hunan Association and all distinguished ladies and Gentlemen,
Good evening. It is my honor and pleasure to
stand before you tonight as we celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival, a cherished
tradition that brings us together to honor our heritage and our community
spirit. I also want to extend my congratulations to Ms. Ashley Deng and her
team of committee members, who will lead the next term of this organization
that we hold so dear.
The Dragon Boat Festival is a time of joy,
reflection, and unity. It is a moment when we pay homage to our rich cultural
heritage, especially relevant to Hunan, and celebrate the values that bind us
together. As we gather here, we are reminded of the legendary poet Qu Yuan,
whose loyalty, courage, and love for his land and people have inspired
generations.
As the Honorary President of the Australia
Hunan Association, I am especially proud to highlight the unique character
traits of the people from Hunan. Hunanese are known for their boldness, their
willingness to be the first to take action, and their unyielding spirit. This
fearlessness is not just a stereotype; it is a defining feature of our
identity. Whether in business, academia, or community service, Hunanese people
are pioneers, leading the way with courage and determination.
A striking example of this boldness came two weeks before the last federal election in Australia. At that time, our then Defence Minister, Mr. Peter Dutton, frequently spoke about potential conflicts and possible war with China. In response, I made a statement that resonated across the nation and captured SBS headline: "If Scott Morrison is re-elected, I will leave the country." This declaration was not made lightly. It was a reflection of strong convictions and the courage to speak out, characteristics deeply ingrained in our Hunanese identity. (Please see below photo)
（以上图片来自网络，编者截图）
Another personal example of this boldness occurred at the onset of the COVID-19 outbreak. In an effort to demonstrate goodwill towards both the Chinese and Australian people, we chartered flights to donate PPE to those in need. Despite being defamed by 7 News, the Daily Mail, and subsequently SBS, followed by a variety of Chinese social media, I took legal action and ultimately won in each of my four requests: 1) Retraction of the article 2) Publicly apologiese to myself, my family and my association 3) Pay all my legal expenses 4) Pay my damage. Such boldness, I believe, stems from my Hunan heritage. Without the fearless spirit of the Hunanese, I might not have had the courage to stand up and fight back.
(Please refer to the following link by Xinhua News in English at the time of apologies in June, 2020.
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-06/25/c_139167019.htm )
This boldness is not about seeking attention
but about standing firm in our beliefs and advocating for what we believe is
right. It is about being leaders in our community and making a difference in
the world around us. This spirit of fearless advocacy is what drives us to
excel and to push boundaries, ensuring that our voices are heard and our
contributions are recognized.
Tonight, as we celebrate the Dragon Boat
Festival, let us remember the spirit of Qu Yuan and the legacy of bravery and
resilience that he left us. Let us also celebrate the spirit of the Hunanese
people, who continue to inspire with their courage and leadership.
I would
like to take this opportunity to promote the China International Food &
Catering Expo, to be held in Changsha between 6-8th September, 2024.
I hope our exporters from Australia seize the opportunity… Also, I would all of
our importers and exporters here can work more closely with Australian Hunan
Association to promote the bilateral trade to a new level.
(Photo Credit: Michelle Cheung)
I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you for being here tonight and for your ongoing support of the Australia Hunan Association. Together, we are stronger, and together, we will continue to make a positive impact on our community and beyond.
Thank you, and I wish you all a joyous and
memorable Dragon Boat Festival.
Full onsite Speech is in the Video:
（Speech by Richard Yuan, Honorary President of Australia Hunan Association, at the Dragon Boat Festival Celebration Dinner）
Speaker's Bio: Richard Yuan, JP, currently serves as the Honorary President of the Australia Hunan Association, Chairman of the Australia-China Entrepreneurs Club, President of ABC World, and International Ambassador of the SME Association of Australia. He also holds advisory positions with various governmental and community organizations in Hunan Province as a super connecter between Australia and Hunan. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Yuan, along with Yuanping Kuang and Dongdong Yang, donated anti-epidemic supplies to Sydney via chartered flights from Wuhan on the 8th April 2020. However, this act was defamed by Australia's Channel 7 News, The Daily Telegraph, SBS Australia, and several Chinese media outlets. Yuan pursued legal action and became the only person in the world to win a case resulting in the removal of false reports, a public apology, and compensation for legal fees and personal damages from ALL of the associated media outlets. He is a source of pride for the Hunan community in Australia and the entire Chinese diaspora.
-The End-
中文版
澳大利亚湖南同乡会名誉会长袁祖文太平绅士在端午节庆祝晚宴上的讲话
编者注：
我们很高兴推荐澳大利亚湖南同乡会荣誉会长袁祖文太平绅士在端午节庆祝晚宴上发表的鼓舞人心的演讲。袁先生的演讲突出了湖南人民丰富的文化遗产和敢为人先的精神，以及端午节在澳洲促进社区团结和反思方面的重要意义。他的演讲强调了”吃得苦，霸得蛮，耐得烦“和领导的重要性，并通过个人亲历轶事和他为加强澳中关系所做的持续努力来说明这一点。我们希望我们的读者能从他的演讲中得到激励和启发。
尊敬的陈莎莉国会议员，中华人民共和国驻悉尼总领馆胡阳领事，华人首位议员何沈慧霞博士，王斌议员，邓会长及各位朋友，
从左至右：杨东东主席，陆吉副领事，胡阳领事，袁祖文，湖南会理事DAVID
晚上好。我很荣幸今晚出席并有机会与大家一起庆祝端午节这个珍贵的传统，它将我们聚集在一起，共同纪念我们的文化遗产和社区精神。同时，我也要祝贺邓爽会长及其理事会，他们将在下一届领导我们心爱的组织-湖南会。
恭贺嘉宾与湖南会各位理事合影
端午节是一个充满欢乐、反思和团结的时刻。在这个时刻，我们向我们丰富的文化遗产致敬，尤其是端午节是与湖南相关的文化遗产，并庆祝将我们联系在一起的价值观。在这里，我们会想起传奇诗人屈原，他的忠诚、勇气和对国土及人民的热爱激励了一代又一代人。
作为澳大利亚湖南同乡会的荣誉会长，我特别自豪地强调湖南人的独特性格特征。湖南人以勇敢著称，他们敢为人先，吃苦霸蛮的精神。这种无畏的精神不仅是一个刻板印象；它是我们身份的定义特征。无论是在商业、学术还是社区服务中，湖南人都是先驱者，以勇气和决心引领前进。
在澳大利亚上一次联邦选举期间，有一个突出的例子。当时，我们的国防部长彼得·达顿先生频繁谈及与中国的潜在冲突。作为回应，我发表了一份声明，这在全国引起了共鸣，并成为SBS头条新闻：“如果斯科特·莫里森连任，我将离开这个澳大利亚。”这一高调声明不是轻易做出的，它反映了湖南人强烈的家国信念和勇敢发声的精神，这是我们湖南人勇于担当的身份的深刻体现。
另一个个人霸蛮的例子发生在COVID-19疫情爆发之初。为了向中澳两国人民表达善意，邝远平，袁祖文，杨东东包机捐赠PPE给有需要的人。尽管被7 News、Daily Mail以及随后SBS和各种中文社交媒体诽谤，我力排众议及各种好心相劝，霸蛮采取了法律行动并最终完胜4项：删除稿件，公开道歉，赔偿律师费用，赔偿个人损失。这成为疫情期间全球海外华人维权中唯一完胜的经典案例。我相信，这种霸得蛮的勇气源自我的湖南血统。没有湖南人的无畏精神，我可能没有勇气站出来反击。（编译者注：想想也确实如此，疫情中，仅澳大利亚就有无数华企，无数侨团社，无数侨领被污蔑，诽谤，导致家庭，事业受损。真不记得哪个企业，哪个侨团社，哪位侨领当时站出来与主要英文媒体对薄公堂？澳洲不多，全球也罕见）
该诽谤案成功后报道链接供参考：刚刚！澳媒向华人道歉了！删除抹黑文章并赔偿损失，发文向其本人及家人道歉！（编者注）
这种勇敢不是为了吸引眼球，而是为了坚定信念并倡导我们认为正确的事。在社区中成为领导者，并在我们周围的世界中有所作为。这种无畏的倡导精神推动着我们不断努力，突破界限，确保我们的声音被听到，我们的贡献被认可。
杨东东主席，何沈慧霞前议员，袁祖文，王斌议员
今晚，当我们庆祝端午节时，让我们铭记屈原的精神和他留下的勇气与坚韧的遗产。让我们也庆祝湖南人的霸蛮精神，他们继续以勇气和领导力激励我们。
我想借此机会推介将于 2024 年9 月 6 日至 8 日在长沙举办的中国国际食品餐饮博览会。我希望我们澳大利亚的出口商抓住机会……此外，我希望老乡们帮助我们这里所有的进出口商，都能与澳大利亚湖南会更加紧密地合作，推动双边贸易迈上新水平。
（摄影：张米雪）
谢谢大家，祝大家度过一个愉快而难忘的端午节
袁总端午节现场演讲视频：Full onsite Speech is in the Video:
作者介绍：
袁祖文太平绅士现任澳中企业家俱乐部主席，兼任澳大利亚湖南会荣誉会长，ABC环球集团总裁和澳大利亚中小企业协会国际代言人。他还在湖南省一些政府和社团机构中担任海外顾问职位。在疫情期间，袁祖文与邝远平、杨东东一起通过武汉包机捐赠抗疫物资驰援悉尼，但因此被澳洲7号新闻台、英国每日电讯报、澳洲SBS及多家中文媒体诽谤报道。袁祖文采取法律手段，成为疫情中全球唯一一位获得“删掉不实报道，公开道歉，赔偿律师费和赔偿个人损失”的胜诉者, 以上所有大牌英文媒体都向袁先生公开，正式道歉。可以说，是他的湖南血统和湖南人的底气，成就了他为澳洲湖南人及全体华人的荣誉和尊严。
微信扫码关注该文公众号作者