"For our customers - Healthy food is as good as medicine."

A general practitioner, dragon boat racer and Meals on Wheels volunteer, Vi has spent his life helping others, both in and out of the clinic. Despite a full schedule, he finds time each fortnight to deliver meals through his local branch in Campbelltown - and he wouldn’t have it any other way.

When asked what’s his “why” for volunteering with Meals on Wheels, Vi explains.

“I like to give back to community and help others when I get a chance. I think it’s because when I arrived from Vietnam as a 9 year old in 1979, we left Vietnam on a boat with not very much. When we arrived in Adelaide, my family received a lot of help from volunteers to settle into the community.”

Today, decades later, Vi is a general practitioner, a national-level dragon boat racer and a Meals on Wheels volunteer. Despite juggling work, sport and family, he always makes time to give back.

“Volunteering gives me sense of purpose and helps me with my mental health.”

Vi’s medical journey has taken him through football clubs, mental health training, a master's degree in skin cancer medicine, as well as cosmetic medicine. Now in semi-retirement, he works part-time in general practice and takes on locum shifts at regional hospitals like Victor Harbor, Port Pirie and the Riverland.

He first connected with Meals on Wheels after returning to Adelaide from Darwin in 2022. “I had some free time between locum work and thought I’d volunteer. I used to sample Meals on Wheels myself whilst working in a Riverland hospital, so I knew the meals were great and a bit about the service.” Meals on Wheels was his first choice when he had spare time up his sleeve.

Now he’s part of the Campbelltown team, regularly delivering meals. Vi has done many roles at the branch but has settled into driver, often driving solo when volunteers are short.

Vi doesn’t advertise that he’s a doctor on his rounds - “That’s just one part of me,” he says. “I don’t walk in with that hat on. I just say hello, drop off the meal and check that people are okay.” Still, his clinical instincts are always quietly working in the background.

“I guess I’m always assessing, even without thinking about it. There’s been times I’ve walked in and known straight away that something’s not right.”

One moment that stayed with him was when a regular customer took a long time to reach the door. “When she finally opened it, I could tell something was wrong. I got her to sit down and asked the branch to contact her daughter-in-law, who helped convince her to call an ambulance. I waited with her until it arrived." That quiet care - being present and looking out for others - is at the heart of Vi’s volunteering.

“In my medical work, I usually see people when they’re sick or in hospital. Meals on Wheels gives me a chance to see them at home, where they’re more relaxed. You realise how important those everyday interactions are. A hello. A smile. A moment of conversation.”

Vi sees the impact this work has on customers, even in small ways.

“I couldn’t think of one specific customer who made an impact on me - just seeing someone smile, or say thank you, that’s enough. Most people are genuinely grateful.”

For him, Meals on Wheels is as much about connection as it is about nutrition. “Some people don’t see anyone else apart from us all day”. And the meals themselves matter just as much.

“Older people in the community need to have healthy meals regularly. Healthy food is as good as medicine. A lot of people we visit can’t cook anymore. Some have very little room in the fridge. Knowing they’ve had a warm, balanced meal – soup, main course and dessert that day is a big deal.”

When Vi’s not working or volunteering, he’s training with the Black Sea Dragons, his dragon boat club. He also paddles for the Australian national team, the Auroras, in the Senior B (over-50s) category.

On July the 14^th 2025 Vi represented Australia in the World Dragon Boat Racing Championships in Brandenburg Germany, where 4,000 athletes from 30 nations battled it out for the top position, with Vi's team Senior B gaining a Silver medal in the Open 20.

“I joined around 2014 once my kids were older and I had a bit of time for myself,” he says. “There’s a great community around it and you stay strong and fit through all the training.”

Still, no matter what else is going on, he finds time to volunteer.

Why? “Because I can,” he says. “Because I’ve got time and people need it.”

When asked – what would you tell someone considering volunteering at Meals on Wheels he simply said, “if you have time, it’s a great way to give back to the community, it’s a needed area, it’s so important.”

And for the people waiting behind the front door each week, Vi’s visit is more than a meal. It’s a connection. A check-in. A reminder that someone cares.