Vietnamese-born entrepreneur, community advocate and philanthropist, Trung-Dzung Le, who has contributed to major projects in the western suburbs, has been awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for his service to the beauty industry and to the Vietnamese community.
In 1999, Mr Le established Hollywood Nails Group, which has gone on to create hundreds of jobs in Victoria and support migrants, particularly people from refugee backgrounds.
Speaking to Star Weekly, Mr Le said he felt proud of himself, his family and his Vietnamese community upon receiving the medal.
“The nail salon is the icon of Vietnamese people in Australia, for now and for the next generation; to continue to contribute back to the country that we are calling home,” Mr Le said.
Mr Le was also recognised for his extensive fundraising and philanthropic endeavours.
He has supported many major causes such as the RSL Memorial in Sunshine, the Joan Kirner Hospital, the new Footscray Hospital, the Vietnamese Museum Australia project, the Western Health Foundation, the Mekong Aged Care Centre, and the Melbourne Royal Children’s Hospital, among others.
Mr Le is a member of the Vietnamese Veterans Association of Australia and the Quang Minh Temple in Braybrook, and he also serves on the advisory board of the Vietnamese Museum Australia.
In 1982, Mr Le left Vietnam as a refugee with his wife, five-month-old daughter, three brothers and sister.
After six days and nights on the dangerous high seas, the family was brought to safety and stayed at Palawan Refugee Camp in the Philippines for nearly two years, before settling in Australia in 1984.
“By then my daughter was two years old and my son was two months old. After a two-week stay in the Enterprise [Migrant] Hostel in Springvale, we moved out to start a job as a dress maker in my bedroom as it was easy to be looking after my children,” Mr Le said.
Now semi-retired, Mr Le said he will continue to support the community and inspire future generations to give back.
“I would like to thank Australia for opening its arms to accepting us as we call Australia home.”
