LOCAL LIFE
ONE OF THE HAWKESBURY ’ S FINEST ...
by Greg Martin
It Is with great sadness that I announce that Kelvin Tsui passed away in hospital on 8 October after an 18-month battle with lung cancer and a day before his 68th birthday . One of Kelvin ’ s last wishes was to let the people of Hawkesbury know how much he loved and appreciated them .
His daughter Jen contacted us and told us about a letter that he wrote the week before he died that he wanted printed so he could let the people of Hawkesbury know just how much they meant to him .
Kelvin was one of our Finest nominees back in 2019 so we thought we would let you read that again as a tribute to a wonderful man who will be dearly missed by his family and friends . ------ 2019 Finest story Kelvin Tsui , who for the past 34 years has operated Rabbit Photo in Richmond ’ s Park Mall . Kelvin Tsui is a bloke who has had a go !
Since coming to Australia from Hong Kong as a 17-yearold in 1972 , the 64-year-old has
had a red hot go in making a comfortable and successful life for himself and his family .
As well as being the friendly face for over three decades at Rabbit Photo , Kelvin has established a solid property portfolio , educated his four children to become successful in their chosen fields and has , as he puts it , “ Enjoyed everything this wonderful country has offered those who came here in search of a better life .”
On arriving in Sydney all those years ago , Kelvin stayed with an elder sister at her Hurstville home while he completed his secondary studies at Gymea High . After finishing Year 12 , Kelvin , who always had a passion for photography , landed a job as a film processor at Pacific Film Laboratories in Carlton where his work ethic and undoubted management skills earned him the night supervisor ’ s role after only 12 months with the giant firm .
“ I stayed with Pacific for another four years or so , and then over the ensuing years managed mini labs in ( Sydney ’ s ) China Town , Liverpool and St Marys ,” Kelvin said .
Mini labs were scattered all
over the country , offering onehour film processing services and selling all and sundry items associated with photography .
In 1985 , Kelvin was made an offer too good to refuse .
“ Out of the blue I fielded a phone call from one of the directors of Pacific Film Laboratories who asked me was I interested in owning my own mini lab ,” Kelvin explained .
“ I laughed and told him I didn ’ t have the necessary finances , and he replied I didn ’ t need the money as he would fund the venture , and I could pay him back when I made profits . So , with a brand-new mall opening in Richmond , Park Mall , Con ’ s Richmond Fruit Market and my Rabbit Photo became the first tenants in 1985 .”
Kelvin ’ s uncanny entrepreneurial skills ensured Rabbit Photo was a success from the first day he opened the doors to the new business .
“ I ’ m proud to say that I was able to repay the substantial set up costs within 10 months ,” Kelvin said .
Those entrepreneurial skills ensured Rabbit Photo Richmond continued to prosper down
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6 ISSUE 174 // NOVEMBER 2024 theindependentmagazine . com . au THE HAWKESBURY INDEPENDENT