I’ve had polio since I was about five or six. One day I just fell down, broke my front teeth and fell into fever. After that, half of my body just collapsed. I never had any medical treatment, and as a result, I always limped badly. Then, when I was 8, war broke out in Cambodia.
The war was really, really hard. You wake up, it’s not even light, but you can hear the bullets and the bombs, and everybody just runs for their life in different directions. My family was separated many times, but we always found each other again. Mum and Dad told us, ‘If anything happens, whenever you get a chance, you must come back to where you were born.’
The Khmer Rouge put us children into forced labour on farms. They made me work with an axe as I couldn’t use my leg. But as a kid, you never think of hardship – all you think is that you want to escape from war, from bullets, from the sounds of bombs, and to have plenty to eat. All my mind basically knew was, ‘I’m hungry, I need to catch a frog to eat.’ If you were to get caught escaping from the camps to go home, they executed you or tortured you. But a lot of people took that risk.
I met my parents for a short time between 1980 and 1981, and at that time, our neighbours said they were going to try to make their way to Thailand. My parents didn’t want me to go, but finally they agreed. It took three months for us to get there, and all that time, I had to walk by picking up one leg with my hand and dragging it.
After 6 months of being in a refugee camp, one day, an Australian couple came in with an interpreter and pointed at me. The interpreter asked, ‘Would you like to go to Australia?’ I remember I was hungry and shaking, and I said, ‘I don’t care if I can just go to some place that’s safe.’
A few months after that, my name went up on the board to say I was moving to a second stage refugee camp. At that camp, they checked your health, and that was when I found out that I had polio. They wanted to operate on my leg there, but finally it was decided that it would happen in Australia.
By then I knew I should call the Australian couple Mum and Dad.
When I arrived in Sydney, I was 15. I had to stay at the East Hills Hostel rather than with my new Mum and Dad, because it would have been impossible for us to communicate if I lived with them. At that time, I felt very lonely, as I couldn’t speak a word of English. I hadn’t even mastered my own language, let alone another, and going to school was really hard. Then, luckily I met my sister here, at church. I didn’t know who she was, but she knew me!
A year later, I went for my operation. When I came out, I thought my leg was worse, because it was very, very floppy, and I had to use crutches all the time. Then, a month later, I got my caliper done, and I was able to stand up straight. I thought, ‘Oh my god, I’m wearing a shoe!’. I was so, so happy. I said to myself, ‘I’m a new person. I’m born again!’ The doctor told me to exercise, so every morning I put my caliper on and I just walked and walked and walked. 2 years later, I could walk with a normal shoe like everyone else.
In year 11, I thought to myself, ‘I’m not going to make it in school’, so I dropped out and got 2 jobs, working five days in K-mart and six nights in a restaurant washing dishes. I did that for 3 years. Later, I trained as a chef. Then, just as I finished, I found out my dad was in Thailand and my mum was in Cambodia. First, I sponsored Dad to come to Australia, and as soon as he got his citizenship, he sponsored my mum to come over too.
Later, I fell in love with a Thai lady and we got married, and opened a Thai restaurant. Unfortunately, we separated not long after, which made things financially difficult for me. As a result, I decided to move to Queensland.
One day, I heard about some work picking tomatoes in Gatton, and while I was working there, I decided to rent a room at a pub called the Federal Hotel. They had a vacant kitchen there, and finally, I asked the owner if I could rent it, and he said yes. Back then, Thai food wasn’t that well known, so it was a bit tough at first, but eventually I was successful. Four years later, the pub was going to be sold, so I moved to another place in Gatton. And finally, I ended up here, at the restaurant in the Gatton golf club, where I’ve been cooking for the locals for 15 years.
I met my beautiful wife in the Cambodian temple 15 years ago. She already had 2 children of her own, and we have had one child together. I’m very happy now, and I must say I owe my life to Australia, and to Mr and Mrs Way, who are like my second Mum and Dad.
Ken
Cambodia
1982
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What a great spirit. I’m so glad you came to Australia to live.
Good on you Ken… you really have overcome adversity in so many ways… lovely to see you successful and happy
My family and i have been eating with Ken all of that time. He is an amazing man.
True story about what refugees want from a chance to live here and what we can expect to achieve from them if they are given the chance.
Well done Ken! Welcome to Australia – you have achieved a lot through guts and determination ????
Thank you for your amazing bravery & service to the community. You are someone we can be thankful for!
What a fighter you are! I wish you all the happiness for your future. You deserve to have everything your big heart desires. And it is beautiful how you helped your Mum and Dad also.
An amazing journey Ken, a good reminder for people to understand true struggle and to be thankful for what they have.
Strength in adversity. Thank you Mr & Mrs Way, and so happy for you Ken. You might have been born in Cambodia but your spirit is Australian. Good on you mate ????
So glad to have you in Australia, your courage and warmth and skills add to our country!
Always proud to call you a friend Ken and if you haven’t had the best food in town visit Thai and More at the Gatton Golf Club. We go every week! ????
Thank you for sharing your story, it helped to make me a little bit of a better person today.
Proud to have worked for Ken for 4 years while at Uni at Gatton such an honest hardworking man and he has the best Thai food! Melody Jarvis
Champion. Wish you and your family all the best. This is what the majority of refugees want, a chance at living a normal, safe, peaceful life with opportunity. And we need more positive stories like this. To stop all this Bigotry and racism non sense ❤️
Now there’s an Australian right there. Parliamentarians take note.
Ashlee, Aaron Mclean this is the owner of the Thai place we used to eat at all the time in gatton! Still to this day the best Thai I have ever eaten!!!
Thank you for sharing you story. Just shows hard work and determination wins in the end. All the best, Gatton is a better place because of you. Thank you.
we are so lucky to have you in Australia. well done on being so hardworking and positive.
Always proud to have you a good husband and dad you always work hard for our family and you are always in our hearts, love you forever bong.
Ken!!! Lovely man who brought Thai to our area 🙂
Dear Ken, no one would know by your cheerful smile how much you have been through. Your perseverance and fortitude through adversity and pain are the marks of a remarkable man. Gatton golf club is a better place because you are there.
Ken, has it really been 15 years since you’ve been in Gatton?! Was it really 15 years ago that I met you as a little girl In the Federal, when you cooked me dinner most nights and told me stories every other night.
I have seen you so many times over those 15 years, and it always made me smile that you were happy to see me, and couldn’t believe how much I had grown. It’s been a privilege to know you these 15 years 🙂
Kenny you are a legend and I’m proud to say a top bloke, Andrea and I enjoyed your Thai all the time at the fed. Your a hard working fella and always have a smile and time for a chat. Your story is truly amazing and I wish I had of spent more time finding this out. But I will always remember your gang currie it is amazing. Catch up soon
Cheers Luke
Wow! it was an inspiring story…Im from Philippines with polio also. Im able to walk but with differences. But I never considered it as a hindrance to succeed. I wanted to seek job in other country like Australia but I have doubt if I have a chance as a differently able person can land a job in in their country. Can anyone help me?
Dear Ken,
A beautiful man with a beautiful heart. I thank you for your kindness of the past. Others won’t know what i mean but you will
So great to hear your story Ken. I remember when you first opened at the Federal my wife and I use to come in 2-3 times a week. Thank you for kindnes of sharing your beautiful food with us all.