Young Taiwanese woman Wen-chi Cheng arrived in Australia through the Australian Working Holiday Maker Visa scheme in 2018 and is grateful to have been able to remain here and to fly home to see her family on two occasions.

Working in the food industry in the city of Tainan, Wen-chi possessed great skills as a lead in the kitchen and restaurant she was employed at.

The owners appreciated that her knowledge would add value to their business.

However, while living in Tainan, a bustling city considered to be the cultural capital of Taiwan, the young woman was looking for change and quietly admitted she was a little bored with life.

Discussing her thoughts with other young people, she decided to apply for a visa in Australia, where she could learn about different foods and do the tourist thing by travelling around the country.

She was joined by 22,000 other young Taiwanese last year who applied for a working holiday maker visa.

Arriving in Australia, and due to the availability of suitable work and accommodation, Wen-chi went to Queensland and secured work at Caboolture, a fruit growing area at the gateway of the Sunshine Coast with a population of 29,534.

Wen-chi packed strawberries for the next five seasons, and in the off-season headed south to pack stone fruit.

During one particular season at Caboolture the media was swamped with a story of a pin being found in a punnet of strawberries, which had a devastating effect on the growers’ business for the remainder of the year.

Wen-chi was to become well-experienced working in packing sheds and generally considered their most skilled worker, packing 350 to 400 punnets per hour on piece rates. The average was generally a lot less, at 220 punnets per hour.

In 2019, the hourly rate was more stable than piece rates and the young Taiwanese woman went to Sunland stoned fruit, just outside Cobram which was seeking the fastest and best workers. Wen-chi certainly met the criteria over the following months.

Then it was off to Mildura in her Volkswagen where she packed grapes on piece rates then headed back to Cobram.

After working in larger towns, it felt right and Wen-chi was comfortable. She made a number of friends, she enjoyed the town and the work she was doing, and she was well paid at Red Leaf Fresh Fruits and Sunland.

Since the opening of the Riverside Hotel, Wen-chi has been kept busy waiting on customers in the bistro during the lunch and dinner periods and is happy to offer assistance regarding individual dishes.

She is enthusiastic, always exhibits a happy smile and ensures your visit to the ‘Bottom Pub’ is a pleasurable experience.

Having been in Australia for seven years, it is not yet determined if she will be able to stay on next year; however, she has learnt a lot about the different foods here in Australia and a different way of cooking that she could take home to Taiwan and perhaps teach her fellow foodies.

“I like the life in Australia, it’s very quiet and relaxed,” Wen-chi said.

“I also enjoy the small things in life and prefer to live for the now.”

It sounds very much like she has picked up the thoughts and mannerisms of Aussies.

Yet, Wen-chi is not like many Australians. She understands that if you live in a country that is one per cent the size of Victoria with a population of more than 23 million people that you must work hard to survive and be the best you can be.

It is not so easy to obtain a job that you like that pays well, back home.

She sends money home regularly to her mum, who is a widow and retiree. Her younger brother Chi Fu works with technology.

Wen-chi said more than 95 per cent of young people attended university, and they loved Bitcoin and crypto.

“The young ones love it, but they need to work too,” she said.

Taiwan, a part of the Republic of China, became the first South East Asian country — on May 24, 2019 — to legalise same-sex marriage.

The country is projected to transition into a ‘super-aged society’, with over 20 per cent of the population expected to be 65 years and over.

This is due primarily to a declining birth rate and ageing workforce.

The official language of Taiwan is Mandarin and the country’s main religions are Buddhism and Taoism.

Some 41 per cent of Taiwan’s major exports are electronic, mechanical, electrical equipment and technology products.

Its food businesses are innovative and creative, with 7369 food factories employing 150,000 workers.

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Wednesday, 21st June 2028

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