Australia Day Award
Mas Mai is an active member of the Burmese community who has established a successful social enterprise, the Free Burma Cafe in Springvale as well as supporting the Burmese community in many ways.
Mas Mai is a leader in the community with an inclusive style and a focus on building harmony and inclusion. The Free Burma Cafe is an outward demonstration of Burmese food and culture but has also become a hub for community support.
From there, Mas Mai provides advice and assistance to the Burmese community, including the establishment of a community funeral fund to support grieving families, social activities for children and older adults, providing material goods and housing and bringing the community together for celebrations and prayer. Mas Mai is highly respected within his own community and more widely within the municipality as a community leader who promotes that value of the diverse culture of Greater Dandenong and promotes harmony and tolerance.