Australian Story - Season 1 Episode 25

Calling the Tune: Our program begins with an incredible story of one of Australia's most high profile Asian women. She is Donna Tsang, wife of the Deputy Lord Mayor of Sydney. Donna, who came to Australia from Taiwan at the age of 16, is the driving force behind Sydney's successful East West Orchestra, bringing together musicians from every possible background. Her story is inspirational because she describes herself as someone who used to be "afraid of the whole world". Now she says her husband says "the whole world is scared of me, because I drive them crazy". Donna also talks candidly about traditional Asian cultural values and her transformation from a submissive role to a liberated "western" lifestyle..something of which her husband has been very supportive, even though it's meant major changes in their marriage. PLUS: The Match Maker: Our second story is about thirty-five year old Simon Stein, who runs a picture framing business in Sydney's Marrickville. But for the last nine years, Simon has had an unpaid sideline…getting couples together by acting as a matchmaker. He has been phenomenally successful, claiming dozens of ongoing relationships, twenty five engagements and several marriages. Simon is motivated by his desire to see Jewish people marry within their own community and maintain their faith. He travels all around the country at his own expense organising meetings and dinners. He is an amusing and extroverted character…with a mass of anecdotes about the sensitive business of getting people together.