“GOOD NEWS” (DOCO.1)- NEW SERIES

by Desmond Kelly “the Star of eLanka”

If his “paintings” could be bought, I could say that they would each be worth (c/w frame) , at least three times their weight in GOLD. His name, Ahn Do, who, incidentally, will be just 40 years old next week, on the 2nd of June 2017, (Happy birthday Ahn), a former refugee from Vietnam, who almost lost his life, together with his family, as they travelled on another “boat” which nearly sank, on their way to Australia.

Image source: Herald Sun

Goes to prove that we DO NEED refugees like this to ENHANCE various “Cultures” in this Country.

This is my brief introduction of a guy (I would be proud to call him a grand-son), whose autobiography is already on the internet and whose “story” is quite a fascinating one. Already, he has the distinction of being an Actor, an Author, Comedian, but, in my own opinion, a SUPERB Artist who “paints” his subjects and,at the same time “interviews” them, coaxing them, as only he can, to “give-out” very much more of themselves than they would, to any OTHER interviewer.

Ahn WAS NOT acting when he wiped away a tear or two as he painted the portrait ANOTHER GREAT AUSSIE by the name of KURT FEARNLEY, a SUPERB “Paralympian-Extraordinaire”, whose “show with Do” is on “You-Tube”. Watch it, if you can, my dear readers. Watch it and take an example of a disabled athlete who could beat many abled ones at their own “game”.

Kurt & his entire family are TRUE AUSTRALIANS who give this great Country cause to be an extremely PROUD one. It was a pleasure to watch this handsome rugged larrakin “wheel” his way into Ahn’s studio, haul himself into a chair (he is minus both legs), from birth, and sit there, telling his life-story to the portrait painter
without even a hint of self-pity. It was a pleasure to hear about some of his achievements which, from the look on Ahn’s face, stunned him. It was certainly a pleasure for me to watch TWO guys who made me now proud to be a Lankan/AUSTRALIAN. Both deserve to be Australian of the year.

When Ahn finishes his portraits he asks his models to take a break, come back, close their eyes and not “peep” while he turns the picture around, and to see the look of amazed, appreciative look in the eyes of this champion paralympian (this time) was really SOMETHING ELSE!!. Ahn has already painted many portraits of famous people and the “oohs & aahs” of each & every one of them is ample proof of the quality of Ahn’s work. More “Good-News” documentaries will follow. Hope you people out there enjoy them and if you do please tell all your friends to turn to e’Lanka so you can join our website also.

Image source: ABC

Desmond Kelly.
“Star of eLanka”