Survival the best measure of success

For Virginia grower Dao Nguyen, success isn’t measured by how many greenhouses you have.

But giving it your all and not giving up after the devastation of floods.

Mr Nguyen, a capsicum grower was one of the worst hit by the November 2005 floods in Virginia.

The family business lost everything, 50 greenhouses, including all crops and soil. Ten years of hard work washed away in days of torrential flooding.

“It was terrible, we lost everything and there wasn’t anything that we could do,” Mr Nguyen said.

“We wanted to give up, but you can’t, after spending so much money and time on the business, it was our livelihood, we had to keep going.”

“Mr Nguyen received much need assistance through the State Government’s Gawler River Floods Recovery Program to help him and his family start over.

“We received a $10,000 grant through the recovery program, which helped us rebuild our greenhouses and plant new crops,” he said.

“I don’t know what we would have done without the grant. We had nothing left after the floods and the money really helped us get back on track.

“It was really hard on me and my family both physically and mentally, we worked up to 20 hour days.”

But Mr Nguyen says it was all worth it, looking around at his re-established capsicum business that now boasts 70 greenhouses and a dam to store rainwater.

Finally after two years of recovery the business is fully operational, with Dao, his wife, Lien and sons Hung and Hau running the whole operation.

“Since the floods I have learnt about new ways of improving the business and now hope to make the transition to hydroponics in the coming year or so,” Mr Nguyen said.

Hung, Dao and Lien Nguyen have fought back against the devastation of the Virginia floods in 2005. After two years of recovery their business now boasts 70 greenhouses of capsicums.

Hung, Dao and Lien Nguyen have fought back against the devastation of the Virginia floods in 2005. After two years of recovery their business now boasts 70 greenhouses of capsicums.