East West 101
snuck us into the grounds in the back of a jeep,
region where my father was born. I returned to
which was scary and thrilling at the same time.
work on the ABC TV show Heartbreak High. It
While in Burma we mused at the architecture in
was my first acting role, and I was just out of high
Rangoon from the time of British rule, and
school myself.
enjoyed the stunning pagodas and stupas on the
O
plains, but it was sobering to know that in other
Karen community has increased, based mostly
parts of the country people were dying in guerilla
around special events. When I can, I attend
warfare against the government.
Refugee Week activities; I even got to be guest
A
judge for the yearly talent competition - Karen?s
As a teenager in Australia I used to wear a
Over the years my access to the Burmese
T-shirt with National League of Democracy
Got Talent! Primarily, it has been an honour and
leader Aung San Suu Kyi?s face on it, which said
a privilege for the past nine years to be the
“Support Democracy in Burma”. At the time she
English-speaking MC for the New Year?s
was under house arrest, and was a symbol of hope
Celebrations, along with members of the Karen
and democracy for many. But as a teenager I felt a
youth, who handle the Burmese and Karen
sense of powerlessness to help in any way.
speeches. Community leaders, politicians,
I
representatives from unions and Aid organizations
I came back early from our Burma trip,
before having the opportunity to go to the delta
such as UNHCR and STARTTS, all attend the