On 2 August 2026, I was delighted to attend a Thanksgiving Service at Vietnamese Grace Church to celebrate its 40th anniversary. I want to thank Pastor Hoa My Trinh for her outstanding leadership of the church.
Pastor Hoa is an extraordinary woman. The story of how she came to Australia is truly inspiring. After fleeing Vietnam in the 1970s, she found herself adrift in the South China Sea. During that ordeal, she promised her life to God if she was rescued. She was eventually rescued and given the choice of resettling in Canada or Australia. She chose Australia, and since arriving here, she has been the driving force behind Vietnamese Grace Church.
I want to congratulate Pastor Hoa on her decades of service. She is a wonderful Australian who has dedicated her life to serving others.
I also want to thank Vietnamese Grace Church for its tremendous contribution to our community. The church has supported people in need not only in Brisbane, but right across Queensland. It has built strong relationships with other multicultural communities, including African and Karen communities, helping to strengthen the bonds that unite us.
I would also like to acknowledge the church’s missionary work in Vietnam, particularly its support for the establishment of a highly successful drug rehabilitation centre, which has changed many lives for the better.
Thank you, Pastor Hoa. Thank you to everyone at Vietnamese Grace Church for your faith, service and commitment to the community. I look forward to attending your next Thanksgiving Service.
