For Immediate Release 19 March 2026
Suburban Rail Loop East Tunnel Boring Machine Named in Honour of AVWA Founder, Mrs. Cam Nguyen OAM
MELBOURNE, VICTORIA – The Australian Vietnamese Women’s Association (AVWA) is incredibly proud to announce that a Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) for the historic Suburban Rail Loop (SRL) East project has been officially named "Bich Cam," in honour of AVWA’s Founder and current President, Mrs. Cam Nguyen OAM.
Mrs. Nguyen, who was also named the 2021 Victorian Senior Australian of the Year, has devoted more than 43 years to community service. Since founding AVWA in 1983, she has worked tirelessly to support individuals and families across Victoria through education, social services, advocacy, and community development.
As part of the Suburban Rail Loop project, eight TBMs are being named after influential Victorian women who have made significant societal contributions. In a highly meaningful process, the names were selected by local primary school students located along the SRL corridor.
Nicky Chung, CEO of AVWA, expressed immense pride on behalf of the organisation’s staff and members.
"We are incredibly proud to see Cam’s lifelong dedication to the community recognised in such a monumental way," said Ms. Chung. "This is not just a celebration of Cam’s tireless leadership, but an acknowledgment of the profound impact AVWA has had on families across Victoria. To see a machine that is literally building the future of our city named after our founder is a special honour."
Reflecting on the announcement, AVWA Founder and President, Mrs. Cam Nguyen OAM, shared her gratitude for the community and the students who selected her name. "I am deeply humbled by this recognition, and I share this honour with everyone who has helped build AVWA over the last 43 years," said Mrs. Nguyen. "To know that local primary school students—the very generation that will benefit most from this infrastructure—played a role in choosing these names makes this incredibly special to
me. It is a wonderful feeling to be associated with a project that represents progress, connection, and the future of Melbourne."
AVWA extends its sincere gratitude to the Victorian Government, the Suburban Rail Loop project team, and the local students for highlighting the contributions of community leaders within this historic infrastructure project.
The Suburban Rail Loop will connect Melbourne for generations to come, and AVWA is thrilled that Mrs. Nguyen's legacy of building strong, connected communities will be forever intertwined with the physical connection of our city.
-ENDS-
Media Contact
Nicky Chung
CEO
Australian Vietnamese Women’s Association
Email:
Phone number 0475 871 589
For more information about AVWA please visit https://avwa.org.au/en/
AVWA
The Australian Vietnamese Women’s Association (AVWA) is a non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting the health, wellbeing, and empowerment of Vietnamese community members. AVWA has 435 employees, 4 offices in Victoria, and five program areas – Family and Children Services, Training and Vocational Services, Aged and Disability Services, Health and Community Wellbeing and Cultural and Language Services. AVWA strives to address the unique needs and challenges faced by Vietnamese Australians and foster a supportive community environment.
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