Retired officer recognised for service five decades after arriving as refugee
- Feb 3
- 2 min read
BY KIRRALEE NICOLLE
A retired Salvation Army officer who arrived in Australia as a refugee has recently been awarded for his contributions to the community.
Lieutenant-Colonel Xuyen (Sam) Tam Pho Liu, who served for more than 30 years in both corps and executive roles throughout the Australia Territory, was awarded the Chinese Australian Achievers Award 2025 for Community Service.
The awards are presented biennially by the Museum of Chinese Australian History in Melbourne, and celebrate the ingenuity, talent, creativity and contributions of Chinese Australians.
Sam, who has both Chinese and Vietnamese heritage, recently revealed on the Stories of Hope podcast with Major Bryce Davies that almost five decades ago, he arrived in Melbourne as a refugee from Vietnam via Malaysia somewhat by fluke, as he was originally set to be placed on a boat to Brisbane, but a slip-up on a medical exam had led to him being sent south instead.
It was through his settling in Melbourne that he encountered The Salvation Army, attended training college and later took on officership.
He has since held a number of Salvation Army appointments, including Corps Officer, Media and Information Officer, Officer Commanding for the Hong Kong and Macau Territory, Canberra-based National Secretary, National Director for Multicultural Ministry, and Executive Manager for Indigenous and Multicultural Media and Community. Additionally, Sam has championed the cause of migrants and refugees in Australia and sought to bring issues faced by those of diverse backgrounds into public discussion.
In 2020, he wrote a reflection for Common Grace’s Refugee Week campaign about his own story, and what he had learnt through his experience as a refugee.
“I have always been grateful for the provision the Australian Government afforded me when I arrived in Melbourne, 42 years ago, as a refugee from war-torn Vietnam,” he wrote. “Accommodation, food and financial support in the initial settlement made it easier for me to start a new life. These practical means were the essential ways to welcome me into the country.
“However, connecting with people required a different approach. It could not be ordered by government regulations. It could only rely on the goodwill of the community. I found when I opened myself to others, a genuine acceptance will surely be given in return. I too have learned to welcome others as a result.”
To find out more about the awards and other 2025 recipients, see here.
