TRACY VO
FAMILY GIRL | JOURNALIST | AUTHOR | COOK | HOMEMAKER | ADVOCATE
What are your identities?
Family - I’m very much family oriented. I speak to my parents almost everyday and they only live 8 kilometres away. I catch up with my brother every week. My partner and I both share the same family values which is very special.
Journalist - My brain is wired to be intrigued. I think that’s why journalism is the perfect fit. I ask a lot of questions!
Author - my parents are Vietnamese refugees. I had the wonderful opportunity to write about their escape following the Vietnam war and their life settling in Perth in my memoir Small Bamboo.
Cook - My dad was a chef and mum was a baker. I naturally got their passion for cooking. I do a Sunday cook up every week. If I don’t, I feel a bit lost for the week! It’s my therapy. I cook with love.
Homemaker - I just love pottering around my home and making sure it has an inviting atmosphere for all to enjoy. I’m really into interior styling at the moment. I’m definitely not an expert but I like experimenting with different colours and textures. I’m quite tactile.
Tell us something about Tracy that we don’t know?
People are aware of my love for cooking but I’ve recently taken up knitting. It’s such a fun hobby and I think fast becoming a popular pastime. I’ve only managed to knit a couple of scarves. But I’m working on some mittens! Like cooking, I find knitting extremely therapeutic.
What made you choose the Media Industry as a career?
I always enjoyed watching the news and current affair shows. I grew up with 60 Minutes, the Sunday program and most nights, we’d watch National Nine News which is of course Nine News these days. It’s ironic I ended up at the station I always watched! I wanted to start writing for newspapers but ended up on radio and then into TV. It’s a career full of surprises, be it chasing the bad guys outside of court, jumping out of helicopters, heading overseas on a breaking story or meeting every day people who have inspiring stories. It’s taken me around the country and around the world. I’m so grateful for all the things I’ve learned so far and will keep learning well into my older years!
What has been your biggest lesson in life you have learnt so far?
That’s a really tough one. There has been no particular one. I’ve had many life lessons and will continue to learn more. My parents have taught me resilience, respect, humility compassion and gratefulness. Resilience probably is the top one because I’ve learned to turn adversity into a positive. I was bullied as a child, riddled with low self esteem. I overcame that by working hard on myself and being surrounded by positive and uplifting people. I’ve utilised that value through my personal life and career. Turn a negative into a positive. I never take anything for granted and try and live the most positive and happy life possible.
What advice would you give to women who want to step outside their comfort zone but are too afraid?
Fear takes up too much energy. I’ve learnt this the hard way. I’ve been consumed with fear over some situations in my personal and it just drained me. But once I let go I realised everything pans out the way it should, at the right time. My mother always says to me “nothing is forever.” It reminds me to appreciate what I’ve got in my life at the moment in time and that makes me enjoy my life even more. Take the risk and view every change as an opportunity.