It's Tonemaru: June 2007

Memory Flashback 22: Ming's birthday 09/11/2004

Memory Flashback 21: MUISS

While I was in University, I was involved in overseas student association called "MUISS - Monash University International Student Services". At second year in University I started off as General Officer for Service & Welfare portfolio. Then, at third year, my colleagues (from different faculties) and I ran for the election under the name of VOICE. Then we won the election. I was elected as Treasurer for Year 2003. It was great experience but too much politics as you can see.

MUISS consists of 7 executive committee (by election), and 18 general committees (by interview).

7 executive committee members are

1) President (Ryan for year 2003)
2) General Secretary (Jen for year 2003)
3) Treasurer (Me for year 2003)
4) Education Officer (Okey for year 2003)
5) Activity Officer (Allan for year 2003)
6) Publication Officer (Renald for year 2003)
7) Services & Welfare Officer (Helen kartolo for year 2003)

Front row: Ryan (ex-President), May (Administrator), Joey (May's husband), Jen (ex-General Secretary), Allan (ex-Activity Officer),

Back row: Rene (ex-General committee), ?? (ex-General committee), Me (ex-Treasurer), & Renald (ex-Publication Officer).

Me & Allan (still my best mate)

Memory Flashback 20: Partying & Night Out

For my first year in Australia, I did not go to clubbing or have party too often because it was the year of transition. My first priority was "Study". However after first 2 semesters in University, I got used to the living style and studying style there. Then, I started to go out too often. You cannot believe that I even went to clubbing during exam period. I said to myself that "What the hell .... F*CK the education and go out and have fun". Oh! man ... What a life there.

I often hosted parties at my place. I usually spent whole day on preparing food, alcohol, & place. I wanted to see all my friends who came have fun.

Popular alcohols for my parties were Beers, Wines, Bacardi, Vodka, Johny Walker, Baileys, Malibu, Tequila, & some others.

Activities in my parties were Talking sh*t, Smoking including smoking pots, Card-playing, & Flirting (it depended on individuals)

Places for night out (especially Asian Night on Friday Night) were:

1) SIREN. It was great and the biggest but it was close down. It was located in Telstra Dome (former Colonial Stadium)

2) SALTS. It was the best. It was close down due to insufficient car parking & noise (but i think it's because of too many incidents like killings and fightings)
3) NEXT BLUE. It is located in Crown Casino. There are too many people going there. Everyone has to be in a very long queue. Most of the time, it takes at least 1 hr in a queue if we do not have our names on VIP guests list.
4) CLUB EVOLUTION. It is on 138 COMMECIAL ROAD PRAHRAN 9529-2088.
5) HEAT in Crown Casino.
6) BARCODE in Crown Casino.
7) AMBER LOUNGE on Lonsdale (Basement, 388 Lonsdale Street)

VB - the best beer in Victoria. Well, VB stands for Victoria Bitter

Me & Lao friends (some were born there)

Mouay (my sister's friend), Me, Kookic

Memory Flashback 19: Yum Cha

I like Yum Cha but it's too oily. It's kinda place to catch up with friends on weekend.

Memory Flashback 18: Melbourne relatives

Can you believe that I nearly have relatives in major cities of Australia? I have relatives in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, & Perth. I did not bother them too much because they also need their time with families. So, once in a while, i went to their places to stay over night and have parties (Lao people love parties also).

Memory Flashback 17: Sydney the 3rd Home

As I mentioned in previous post, I did often go to Sydney about 4 times a year during my study in Australia. I have my aunts and uncles there. They are my mother's cousins. They are very close to my mum. I go there just to relax and eat Lao food. Well, they are my cousins so their food tastes similar to my mum's.

My aunt's house in Bonny Rigg, New South Wales, Australia

From left: Aunt Malee, Aunt Sone, Me, and Uncle Thoune

Uncle Thoune, Uncle Om, Me

My car there!!!

(I wished :D hehehe . . . It's my uncle's car)

Memory Flashback 16: Ming and Ming's family

Memory Flashback 15: Oxiana Ltd

The first company that I worked while in Australia was Oxiana Ltd. I worked in Oxiana from December 2003 until late 2004. Back then, Oxiana was just a small mining company but now it becomes bigger and bigger. Oxiana's Market Capitalization is about AUD 5 Billion (May 2007, AUD3.51 per share)

I worked as an assistant to Tony Manini, Executive General Manager - Exploration and Resources for one year before working in Laos with LXML (Lane Xang Minerals Ltd) - a branch of Oxiana Ltd.

Me at Oxiana Headquarter Office

Me & Owen Hegarty - Managing Director & CEO of Oxiana Ltd
We were at Owen's Weekend House to celebrate Christmas 2004.

Owen received AusIMM (Australian Institute of Mining & Metallurgy) Medal 2005.

Because of Owen's leadership, Oxiana got awards:

1) 2006 Digger of the Year at the Diggers and Dealers Forum in Australia
2) 2006 Miner ofthe Year at the Excellent in Exploration and Mining Awards in Australia
3) Sepon mine (in Laos where I am working now) named 2006 Operation of the Year at the Mines and Money Conference in the United Kingdom.
4) Sepon project also received an Engineering Excellence Award from IEAust - Institute of Engineers, Australia.

In May 2005, I went back to Melbourne for my Graduation Ceremony on 19/05/2005). My former colleagues in Oxiana HQ Office and I went out to have lunch to celebrate my graduation. We went to Indian Restaurant near our Office.

From left: Nid, Natalie Quinn, Me, and Rob Curtis

1) Nid or Nitninthavong (a Lao guy) used to be an accountant in Oxiana HQ. Now, he is a Financial Controller of an Australian Company in PNG. He is like my big brother to me. He helps me and provides me consultation on many things.

2) Natalie Quinn is Public Affairs Manager
3) Rob Curtis is Senior Geologist