First Day: 'It was very beautiful…there were lots of white people'

Jenny Phang moved to Australia from Hong Kong in the 1970s and had five children. One of them went on to write a best selling memoir, which became an SBS comedy series.

The real Jenny Law reveals her earliest impressions of Australia. (SBS) Source: Tammy Law

In this SBS comedy, The Family Law, she’s portrayed as a larger-than-life character who doesn’t mince words.

In real life, Jenny Phang isn't much different. She describes "breeding" as her biggest contribution to Australia.

"Five babies. You know that politician [Peter Costello] said, 'One for the mum, one for the dad, one for the country?' I have two extra! Contribution: breeding, having babies."

Her tendency to speak candidly and tell it like it is has already provided inspiration for two books. Sh** Asian Mothers Say was written by two of her children, Benjamin and Michelle Law. Benjamin Law also wrote a memoir The Family Law, which formed the basis for the SBS comedy series.

Ms Phang moved to Australia from Hong Kong in 1975 to join her husband, setting up a restaurant in Caloundra on the Sunshine Coast.

"All I remember is all the pine trees [on] Bruce Highway. Neverending, the pine trees. Very beautiful. Compared where I came from it's very beautiful and lots of white people," she said.

"I'm not racist because back then in Caloundra they're all white. I'm the only Chinese family there."

Ms Phang says she felt mostly accepted, but occasionally experienced racism.  

"One customer said to me, can I have some 'fly lice'? I really don't like that. Like 'fly lice' instead of 'fried rice'. I can pronounce it properly I didn't want to offend him or anything because he's our customer and manners as well."

Good manners and hard work are values she says her parents instilled in her growing up in Malaysia, and something she's tried to pass onto her own children.

"I'm very proud of my children. Lots of contribution to the Australian country and they're all good decent human beings. I got a teacher. I got son working for the engineer company. Benjamin Law, a writer. And Tammy, she's studying PhD in photography. And Michelle (Law), another writer."

Ms Phang says marriage was the reason for migrating to Australia, and that she didn't think much of it at the time.

"People say, 'oh you're so brave'. I didn't realise I was so brave. That's how they described me: b-r-a-v-e, brave."