A fanatical Carlton supporter Trish works has worked in Vietnam since 1996 and was clearly delighted to have the opportunity to meet some of the Carlton players. And she needed no introduction, knowing each of them straight away.
Such was Trish’s welcome that she even interrupted a weights session with some of the players to say hello and ensure the players were filmed with her. The Sunday Program on Channel Seven is producing a special about this remarkable woman.
Born in Ballarat, Trish entered the teaching order of the Loreto Sisters in 1970 and after teaching at various Loreto schools in Australia she was appointed to a post in Thailand in 1985 and then to Vietnam in 1996.
Since her arrival in 1995 Trish has established and/or worked in safe-houses for street kids, regional schools, schools for the handicapped - blind kids, intellectually handicapped kids - children facing a life of poverty, unemployment an unhappiness. She had educated and turned lives around for literally thousands of children.
Trish said she currently works with around 6,000 children in Vietnam. She has a number of projects in the country including shelters for street children, a school for the blind and a school for intellectually and physically disabled children in Ho Chi Minh City and a number of rural school projects.
The program helps to maintain schools, build classrooms and motivate children to stay in school in rural and remote areas as well as supporting scholarship programs.
As for her love of the Carlton Football Club Trish said it started when Ron Barassi moved to Carlton.
“I was originally a Melbourne supporter but switched to Carlton when Ron Barassi moved to the Blues. While Ron moved to North Melbourne and Sydney I stayed true to Carlton and love the club,” Trish admitted during her visit.
Trish has been recognised by both Australian and Vietnamese governments for her amazing work. She is regarded as a saint by the Aussie ex-pat community in Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon).
