Meet the author - Kim Huynh

Kim Huynh will be in conversation with Saskia Mabin on his new book My Old Man and Me: A story of escape, sacrifice and survival. 'I have to live,' Dad kept saying to me. And I had to help him. Forty years after Thiet Huynh smuggled his family out of Vietnam, he faces a final challenge: to be cared for by those he once protected. In 2021 a massive stroke left Thiet in need of constant care and upended life for him and his family, especially for his son Kim. As Kim washed, transported, medicated, monitored, and fumed at Thiet, he forged a profound connection with the man who had risked everything for them to escape Vietnam and start a new life in Australia. Together they looked back at how, after their boat crashed, Thiet tried to save Kim's life by giving him up to a stranger. How he was responsible for providing electricity to both South Vietnam and South Canberra. How he taught Kim to run a bakery, ride a bike, and turn defeat into triumph. This powerful tribute from a son to his father will help you care for your loved ones, look after yourself and to know when to let go. 'Written in captivatingly simple prose, with occasional flashes of poetry, this book grabs your attention from the start and refuses to let go. Essential reading for all those who pray for a more caring world, as well as those who value the multiculturalism increasingly under threat in Australia today.' Christine Helliwell, author of Semut ‘Kim allows us to see the network of obligations we inhabit, and that make us who we are, in an altogether different light.' Scott Stephens, Editor of the ABC's Religion & Ethics website and co-host of The Minefield ‘Kim shines a light on the often-unseen role of caring and its intersections with family and culture. An authentic story that pays tribute to the 58,000 carers who are the heart of our nation's capital.' Carers ACT Dr Kim Huynh , academic, author and broadcaster, is Senior Lecturer in Politics and International Relations, Research School of Social Sciences, ANU. His first book, Where the Sea Takes Us, chronicles his parents’ lives during and after the Vietnam War. Kim contributes to public life as an ambassador for the Early Morning Centre where he convenes a current affairs discussion group and hosts ABC Radio Canberra’s Sunday Brunch. Saskia Mabin has a degree in Media and International Studies from UNSW. She worked for the ABC as a reporter and producer in Broken Hill, Alice Springs and Darwin before coming to Canberra to work as a producer in January 2023. Saskia became the host of the 666 ABC Mornings in November 2024. The vote of thanks will be given by Thiet Hunyh Books will be available for signing from 5.30pm and again after the event. Royalties from the book go to Carers ACT. Additional information: Registration is required for this event. Accessible parking spaces are available around campus should you require them. By registering for this event, you are accepting our privacy policy. A podcast will be made available after the event. TEQSA Provider ID: PRV12002 (Australian University) | CRICOS Provider Code: 00120C