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Dear Tony
I arrived home on the 7th December after my visit to Ireland to see Father Deane. I have already rung Alex and gave him an updated report on Father's condition.
I have spoken to Father and he has indicated his desire to come to Sydney as his first preference. The weather in sydney is not as humid as HK and it is better for his condition. There are a lot of Old Boys in Sydney who will visit him. He also has a few good friends here apart from our family. There are a lot of Asian nurses within the health system so that if he speaks Chinese, chances are people can understand him.
I want to give you the background and history of his long association with Sydney. When he first visited Sydney some 10 years ago, my brother-in-law who is a pathologist introduced him to a well know neurologist who does research work on Parkinson. He has since been coming to Sydney every year to see that specialist for his treatment until recently. On that first year of his visit to Sydney Father also attended a Regional Salesian Old Boy Association meeting in Melbourne where he met some Salesians who were very kind to him. ........
A few years ago, ........, all Salesians in HK were asked if they would stay beyond 1997 and if not, where they would like to go. Father stated that his preference was Sydney.
I took Father back to Ireland for a month long holiday in July 1996, during which Father had a brief meeting with the current Irish Provincial to discuss the possibility of him either returning to Ireland or going to Sydney after 1997. The Irish Provincial told him that he would be welcomed back in Ireland and that arrangement could be made if Father wished to go to Australia.
I understand also that Father Foster had told some of Old Boys in Sydney last November that he thought Father Deane would be better off retiring to Sydney because of the good weather here.
Father has been consistent with his desire to come to Sydney. It is unfortunate that when the time came for him to leave HK, he was not offered his chosen destination.
I hope you can give the above information to Mr Winston Chu whom I believe will be visiting Father in Ireland soon. Mr Chu is perhaps the best person to discuss this matter with Father Foster. I am sure if Mr Winston Chu and Father Foster can arrange to get Father to Sydney, a lot of Old Boys would be very happy.
It is amazing that so many Old Boys have expressed concern and interest in Father's well being. I guess he has earned the love and respect since he always put other people first and wanted to serve people. That it is also the meaning of his Chinese name.
I will write to the Canadian Old boys in a couple of days. I promised to give them an update of Father's recent condition.
I would also like to thank you Tony for arranging the meeting in HK. You have shown your concern and support for Father. I also know a lot of your friends are staunch supporters of Father and he appreciates all your concern and love.
Regards
Theresa Lee
c.c. Henry Tang
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