• Dandenong Star

By Shaun Inguanzo

7th December 2006 09:29:48 AM

Youhorn Chea at last week’s mayoral induction ceremony in Springvale.

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GREATER Dandenong councillors formally elected Springvale Central Ward councillor Youhorn Chea as the city’s mayor last week.

Star revealed last week prior to the mayoral induction that councillors had chosen Cr Chea as mayor in a briefing meeting on Monday, 28 November.

But on Thursday, 1 December, the announcement was made official and Cr Chea donned the mayoral robes for the second time in his 9-year councillorship with the City of Greater Dandenong.

Creating history as the first Cambodian-born mayor in Australia and first Asian mayor of Greater Dandenong when elected in 2001, Cr Chea has lived in Greater Dandenong since fleeing the killing fields of Cambodia in 1982.

He speaks three languages and has a host of qualifications to his name, including a Bachelor of Civil Engineering and Graduate Diploma of Arts in Human Services.

Cr Chea also has a long history of volunteer work in the areas of health and education and has taken a year’s leave of absence from his job as social worker with the Cambodian Association of Victoria

“I have survived refugee camps myself and have worked hard to build a life for my family,” he said.

“I hope I can inspire many refugees in our city to believe that they can achieve great things in their lives.

“Anything is possible if you believe.”

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