ALTHOUGH it is almost eight years since Murray Heath left Coleambally, it will always be the place in Australia he calls his home.
Having lived in Coleambally from 1983 to 2001, it amazes Mr Heath that one third of his life was spent in our community.
As a 20-year-old unemployed fitter-machinist, Mr Heath moved to Coleambally to work temporarily for Allan and Beryl Post Engineering.
In 2001 he purchased a 12-month airline ticket having no idea what his future would hold.
It was Mr Heath’s great mate David Jones who laughed at him when he said: “If I find something I like overseas I may leave Australia for good.”
Perhaps DJ is starting to believe Mr Heath now?
After settling in Cambodia in 2001, Mr Heath took over the lease of a small bar-restaurant called The Traveller’s Bar.
He had a great 14 months there but only ever considered
it a hobby and at the time the Australian dollar was around 48 cents to the US dollar and that hurt Mr Heath. The currency used in Cambodia is the US dollar.
In 2002 Mr Heath took a career change and started teaching English at a school where a close friend was the director of studies.
While Mr Heath is not a qualified English teacher, just speaking English was enough to land a job in the field in Cambodia.
After three years of part-timeteaching part-time at The Home of English, Heath was offered a job as assistant director of studies at a new, soon-to-be-opened school called Modern International School (MIS).
MIS opened for business in 2004 with less than 30
students.
In 2006, the owners made it clear they wanted to sell out
and the school was definitely on the market.
Mr Heath, along with Bongputh Ratha, a long-time
work colleague from his days at The Home of English, purchased MIS in 2006.
There were just 267 students at MIS when the pair took over. Today, over 370 students are enrolled and the numbers are steadily rising.
MIS employs around 60 Khmers (Cambodians) and 10 Westerners (in cluding Irish, New New Zealanders, Americans, Canadians and South Africans).
While most people are aware Cambodia is a very poor country, less would be aware Cambodia has an extremely young population. The genocidal regime of the Khumer Rouge saw to that.
One thing Cambodians have is a desire to improve their own futures, and for this being able to speak English is seen as a way out of poverty.
When travelling through small villages throughout the Cambodian countryside you will often see English language schools.
The students at MIS are predominantly from middle- to upper-class families but there are also some Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean students enrolled.
“Most of the students will study half a day with us, and then half a day at their local school,” Mr Heath said.
MIS has decided to send two girls – Long Sonita, Yang Chivv Huy – and one boy, Prum Teth Pagna, for a free study trip to Australia.
The students, all around 16 years old, will arrive in Melbourne on August 1.
They will spend time in Coleambally around August 8, 9, and 10.
This will be a great cultural experience for these students and also great for any Australians who have the poortunity to meet these students.
These three students have been chosen because MIS recognises them, not only great ambassadors for their school, but also great ambassadors for the Kingdom of Cambodia.
It is now over four years since Mr Heath was last in Australia.
When asked if he was planning a trip back home he responded: “I have no plans of returning to Australia in the foreseeable future but can promise you all that I will bring my family for a visit to Coly ... one day.”
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