- Published:
- Wednesday, 11 December 2019 at 10:00 pm
It is with heavy hearts and fond memories that we farewell our colleague, friend and former Commissioner, Tsebin ‘Bin’ Tchen.
We offer our deepest sympathies to his wife Pauline, daughter Jacinta and son Adrian, and to his extended family and community.
As we reflect on Bin’s role at the Commission from 2015-2019, we will remember him as a voice of reason who demonstrated respect for all. We feel blessed to have known him and honoured to have worked alongside such a strong and respected advocate for multiculturalism.
A man of integrity and compassion, Bin’s humility and shyness for recognition was balanced by his quick wit and willingness to always stand up for others. He spoke his mind and brought insightful perspective to every issue, meeting and conversation.
Tsebin Tchen (far right) with fellow former and current Commissioners at the VMC Film Festival in June 2019.Bin worked tirelessly throughout his professional and personal life to support others because he believed that multiculturalism was about everyone.
This is just part of the legacy that he has left behind.
His long and enduring career spanned all levels of society from grassroots community engagement to his seat in the Australian Senate.
As the first Chinese-Australian politician elected to the Senate in 1998, his contribution was both timely and symbolic at a stage when multiculturalism and migration was being debated through national public discourse.
He has provided leadership and advice to countless community organisations within the Chinese community and wider communities for several decades.
His commitment to multiculturalism was most recently recognised when he was appointed to the Australian Multicultural Council in 2018.
Alongside our colleagues and friends in Victoria’s multicultural communities, we will miss him dearly, but his warmth, humour and passion for diversity will stay with us forever.
We will be paying our respects to Tsebin Tchen at a public memorial held at Melbourne Town Hall on Wednesday 18 December 2019 at 10.00am. You may wish to join us.
His family have set up a special website tsebintchen.com.au(opens in a new window) where you can find the family's official statement, RSVP for the memorial and share a message.
Multicultural organisations who wish to join us, there is a special RSVP link:
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