Born in Agra, India, Deepak Raj Gupta was looking for an adventure when he headed to Australia in 1989.
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He didn't know much about the place at the time, except that it was home to beer-sculling champion, then prime minister Bob Hawke, and cricketing legend Richie Benaud.
Since moving to Gungahlin 18 years ago he's made a name for himself as a community minded man.
The ACT Assembly's overflowing public gallery, with hundreds witnessing Mr Gupta's inaugural speech, was perhaps a testament to this.
Mr Gupta was officially sworn in as the territory's newest MLA on Tuesday after the vacancy created by Meegan Fitzharris' shock resignation last month.
Members of Canberra's Indian community, family, friends, former colleagues, and federal MPs Chris Bowen and Mike Kelly were there to support him.
Mr Gupta says he's been jokingly referred to as the "Indian Forrest Gump", having tried his hand at everything from car washing to owning a small business, working as a chef and being a nationally ranked butterfly swimmer.
He said he joined the Labor Party because he wanted to contribute to the development of Gungahlin and has been particularly focused on education, small business and multiculturalism.
"At its core, multiculturalism is a celebration of equality of opportunity, social cohesion and the strength of diversity," he said in his inaugural speech.
"These values have always driven me and I am really proud to stand in this chamber as a proud Australian-Indian."
Mr Gupta paid an emotional tribute to his late parents and spoke about the importance of family.
"I was fortunate enough to have such a wonderful family, especially my parents Raj Narayan Gupta and Sharda Gupta, who unfortunately are no longer with us," he said.
"Madam Speaker, with all the love and joy I have around me today, there is big emptiness which I can feel in this room, and that is of my parents.
"It is a dream of any child to see their parents proud and witness the achievements of their children, and I am sure Mum and Dad would have been very proud of this son today.
"I miss you every day."
He also paid tribute to his "rock" - his wife Shuchi - and their two children Mallika and Ashvin.
Mr Gupta jokingly lamented his beloved three dogs were not allowed in the chamber, suggesting perhaps City Services Minister Chris Steel's new animal welfare laws did not go far enough.
He ended his speech with a fitting quote from Mahatma Gandhi.
"In a gentle way, we can shake the world," Mr Gupta said.