'Not just for me': Why Tam preserved 30 years of radio programs across 2,000 cassette tapes
A listener has preserved more than 30 years of SBS Vietnamese programs on over 2,000 cassette tapes, safeguarding cultural history for future generations.
SBS has helped Vietnamese migrants navigate life in Australia since their arrival after the end of the Vietnam War 50 years ago.
As SBS celebrates its 50th anniversary, young Australians are still tuning in to stay connected to their heritage. For more than 30 years, Tam Hanh has recorded and preserved more than 2,000 cassette tapes of SBS radio programs. Hanh said it offered her connection and comfort after coming to Australia as a refugee. "I remember when I first arrived in Australia, I would sit beside my Singer sewing machine every day, waiting for SBS Vietnamese radio," she recalled. "I placed over 10 tape recorders around my house to record my favourite programs. I was busy, and sometimes I couldn't listen carefully, so I recorded them to replay later. Over time, it became a habit.
"There were also important programs I wanted to keep, such as those about Vietnamese history, the Vietnam War, or scientific advancements. That's how I started recording to preserve them for the future."
Tam Hanh classifying her cassette tapes. Credit: SBS Vietnamese Hanh regards these cassettes as significant cultural keepsakes and a way to preserve the contributions of the Vietnamese community in Australia for the next generations.
This was not just for me, it also helped others who couldn't tune in live. When I first came to Australia, my English was limited, so I had to learn as much as possible. Tam Hanh
"Now, I see the significance of preserving these programs to help future generations understand the contributions of Vietnamese people to the community."
Broadcasting in Vietnamese SBS expanded its programming to include the Vietnamese language in 1977. To this day, it serves as an important resource for many, fostering a connection to language and culture.
In the years following the end of the Vietnam War in 1975, an estimated two million people fled to countries including the United States, Canada, France, and Australia, significantly growing Australia's Vietnamese community.
The Australian Vietnamese Women's Association (AVWA), a community organisation serving the Vietnamese community since 1983, is led by Nicky Chung, who left Vietnam by boat and arrived in Australia in 1979.
"SBS was easy to hear, easy to understand. We watched the news every night as a family. My dad always emphasised how important it was to have a trusted source of information so we could integrate faster and build a successful life in Australia," Chung said.
Nicky Chung, CEO of the Australian Vietnamese Women's Association. Credit: SBS Vietnamese SBS services continue to provide practical guidance on areas like healthcare, employment, education, and legal matters, helping migrants and refugees transition smoothly into Australian society.
"Broadcasting in Vietnamese and other languages shows Australia's commitment to multiculturalism. We are all seeking a sense of belonging, and SBS reaffirms that we are part of the Australian fabric, despite our displaced history," Chung said.
Connecting communities: The role of SBS for new arrivals Khanh Tho arrived in Australia in 1986 after spending 11 years attempting to flee Vietnam and being repeatedly stopped by authorities. "Our small wooden boat, just 23 metres long and a little over 10 metres wide, carried 230 people. We endured seven days and nights adrift without an engine, battered by towering waves and fierce winds, as water flooded our boat," Tho said. "We had seven encounters with pirates, we suffered robbery, beatings, and assaults. The terror was indescribable as we watched our loved ones being taken.
"Yet, on the afternoon of 10 December, 1987, a sudden storm arose, miraculously carrying our boat to shore in Pattani Province, Thailand."
Khanh Tho is a Vietnamese language teacher and former principal of the Truong Vinh Ky language school. Credit: SBS Vietnamese Tho said the SBS Vietnamese program had played a vital role in helping herself and her family navigate life in Australia. "When we left our homeland, we never imagined that one day we would be able to listen to Vietnamese-language radio broadcasts, especially from a station funded by the Australian government," she said.
"Every evening, we became loyal listeners of SBS, where we could stay updated with news from around the world, our homeland, and the Vietnamese-Australian community.
SBS has played a vital role in strengthening emotional bonds and fostering understanding between generations, especially in families like ours, where grandparents, parents, and children live together under one roof. Khanh Tho
"The programs are rich and diverse, address important social issues that parents and grandparents often struggle with due to language barriers and cultural differences, for example, understanding and supporting children who identify as LGBTIQ+."
Tho, who has worked as a Vietnamese language teacher since 1987, said the SBS Vietnamese program was a key linguistic and cultural resource for her students. "As a teacher and a mentor, I always strive to enrich teaching and learning materials for both teachers and students, and SBS has been an invaluable resource," she said. "The station features clear pronunciation from announcers representing all three main Vietnamese accents — north, central, and south — as well as some speakers with a slight Australian accent." Tho said that recording segments of broadcasts on history, current events, and famous landmarks to incorporate into lessons had been a great way to keep students connected with what was happening around them and in the world. "Short educational and cultural videos, often shared by students themselves in Vietnamese, help them take pride in their heritage and identity," she added.
Tho said SBS Vietnamese continued to be a pillar for the community, preserving language, culture, and the voices of those who had come before.
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