Nellie and Joe first met each other while studying in Melbourne, before returning to Kuching, Malaysia, where they started practicing Nichiren Buddhism. After several years of practising in Malaysia, they migrated to Perth in 1982 after persevering through the challenges of a global recession.
The couple’s warmth, persistence and determination to carry out kosen-rufu movement in Perth along with other pioneer members, saw the membership grew rapidly, until Perth was considered as a District in 1985, and subsequently, a Chapter in 1991. Nellie and Joe share their thoughts on the evolution of the practice in Perth, when commemorative meetings were conducted in community halls before a dedicated Western Australian Community Centre was officially opened in 2005.