VETERAN SINOLOGIST BUILDS A BRIDGE TO AUSTRALIA

Colin Mackerras took a leap of faith by being the first Australian to live and work in China

Editor's note: Last year marked the 40th anniversary of the launch of China's reform and opening-up policy. China Daily profiles people who experienced or witnessed the important drive.

Sinologist Colin Mackerras said his children think he and his wife Alyce, were "incredibly brave" to be the first Australians to work and live in China in 1964, before the two countries had diplomatic relations.