Awards Magazine 2017

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The Community Leader Awards 20
What do you do in your
community?
In the Vietnamese Catholic Community I am a
youth leader, more specifically I am vice-president
of external affairs, and I’m a division leader of the
I also
play piano for Mass on Sunday mornings.
How did you get started?
Well, I have been going to a Vietnamese Catholic
parish since I was five years old. And I’ve been in
that youth group since I was five. We started in
Sydney and when I moved to Queensland I just
moved to the Inala branch and, when I was 18, I
transitioned to a leadership position.
What do you love about your
roles?
It’s incredibly rewarding. When I see the kids’
faces light up after I explain a line of scripture
– even if they understand only one line – it’s so
rewarding. Even when I’m tired and weary, it
refreshes me. It’s my way of giving back to the
community.
Why is your faith important to
you?
I encountered God in a personal way at the Ignite
Youth camp – it was called Zero Gravity back
then in 2011. It was my goal after that to help oth-
er youths experience what I’ve experienced. Even
if I can just help them a little bit on their journey,
it’s very meaningful to me.
What was your reaction when
you heard you were a finalist for
The Leaders?
To be honest I thought it was a joke. At first, in
my friendship groups I’m often pranked and
picked on, but after I found out it was actually
serious, I was quite euphoric. It’s very nice to be
recognised, such an honour. But, yeah, I thought
it was a joke at first. I’m a full-time dentist. I work
close to home and I’ve only been working eight
months after graduation.
Martin Huynh-To
Finalist - Young Leader of the Year 2017
Martin Huynh-To:
Even when I’m
tired and weary, it
refreshes me. It’s
my way of giving
back to the com-
munity.
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