Deng Thiak Adut’s journey began in South Sudan, in a small fishing village called Malek when in 1987, at the age of six, he was taken from his family and conscripted into the army. He told the audience he was too young to realise the freedom he no longer had. “I lost the right to be child. Instead, I was taught to sing war songs”.
During his time as a child soldier, he experienced the horrors of war. “I witnessed children like myself dying as we made our way, bare-foot and starving… I saw too much abuse and death among my friends during the war,” the Sudanese immigrant explained. He was expected to “kill or be killed” and faced this situation alone, without the support of his loving parents.
While for many of his fellow child soldiers “the freedom from fear was death”, Deng Thiak Adut says he was lucky to be rescued by the UN and have the chance to move to Australia and educate himself.
He learned English, is currently studying for a Master’s degree in Law at the University of Wollongong and fights for members of the war-torn Sudanese community from his Blacktown home.
“I remind every youthful migrant to remember and cherish where you came from,’’ he says.
He also calls on every Australian to appreciate the education they receive in a country free from violent conflict. He turned his horrific memories into inspirational messages of hope. His powerful speech reminds us of the many things we take for granted.
“I hope that all of us, each in our own way, will strive to understand and help others. I wish us all a Happy Australia Day,” concluded the recently new Australian citizen and national icon.
Here’s his video profile made by Western Sydney University:
See his full Australia Day Address here.
