SHE might be only 10, but Cassie already has her sights set on a career as a chef.
As part of its Creating Dreams project, Salvation Army Westcare’s Melton Foster Care program rewarded Cassie’s dedication at school with cooking utensils and classes at the Queen Victoria Market.
It hasn’t been an easy journey for the St Catherine’s Primary School pupil who arrived in Australia from Vietnam at age three.
Four years ago, Cassie’s mother, who taught her how to cook, was killed in a car accident.
Through tears, Cassie says she’s comforted by the fact that through cooking she continues to make her mother proud.
“I want to study to be a chef, a pastry and dessert chef,” she said.
“I want to go to Paris, I want to go to Malta and I want to go to Disneyland”.
She also hopes one day to return to Vietnam, the country of her birth.
But for now, she’s happy cooking for her foster parents and siblings at their Melton home.
“The best thing about cooking is getting to eat it. The hardest thing I have cooked is fragrant chicken curry served with yellow rice.”
Cassie is writing to Community Services Minister Mary Wooldridge asking her to change the legislation and allow children under the care of a guardian other than a family member to have their photos published.
Cassie said she was looking forward to having her photograph taken for the Weekly, but given the current legislation she can’t be identified.
Melton Foster Care team leader Karlie Miles said it was important to recognise the efforts of children such as Cassie.
“She’s a sweetheart and despite the difficult circumstances she experienced and which led to her foster care placement, she has managed to achieve a lot of great things,” Ms Miles said.
