Gloria Zou: Chinese child star to attend Adelaide’s St Peter’s Girls’ School
SHE is the Chinese child star who parties with celebrities on superyachts in Sydney, hobnobs with politicians and aspires to be a diplomat. And she’ll soon be in Adelaide.
SHE is the Chinese child star who parties with celebrities on superyachts in Sydney, hobnobs with politicians and aspires to be a diplomat.
Now 8-year-old Gloria Zou, the daughter of Chinese mining mogul Sally Zou, is about to hit Adelaide.
Gloria has appeared in Chinese films, TV series and advertisements and has recently made a splash in Sydney’s social scene courtesy of her mum, Aus Metals and Aus Gold boss Sally Zou, who is now embarking on mining investments in South Australia.
Ms Zou, whose family reportedly ranks as one of the largest steel mill owners in China, threw a birthday party for Gloria in March aboard a superyacht in Sydney’s Pittwater with 80 guests including former X Factor and My Kitchen Rules winners.
The event came complete with a PR campaign and was documented by professional photographers and even a film crew. Ms Zou also has a penchant for buying full page advertisements promoting her daughter in The Australian newspaper, estimated to cost at least $50,000 each.
Her ad this week bore an announcement that Gloria would be attending St Peter’s Girls School at Stonyfell next year.
“The Little Angel Goes Back to China to Celebrate 66th National Day. Personages of All Circles in Australia Write to Gloria ZOU to Wish her Motherland China Happy Birthday,” the advertisement read, in reference to her trip home in the school holidays to see her younger sister and brush up on her Chinese.
An earlier ad on her birthday, titled “I shine ... because of you!”, contained a long letter from Gloria detailing her love for her mother, teacher and friends. She also sent shout-outs to politicians and diplomats including “Uncle” Geoff Brock, who she met at State Parliament, “Uncle” Tony Abbott, and Chinese Consul General in Sydney “Uncle” Li Huaxin.
“My Dear Uncle Geoff Brock, thank you! It is you, on behalf of the South Australian Government, who gave me the title of China-Australia’s friendship little angel,” she wrote.
“Dear Uncle Tony Abbott, do you still remember me? That three-year-old girl you carried through China Town in Sydney? That seven-year-old Chinese girl who wrote you a welcome letter for your visit to China and got a letter back from you? It is you who lets me know ‘everyone is equal and China and Australia are like a family’.”
Sally Zou says the ads show the family’s appreciation for opportunities in Australia and co-operation between the two countries. The yacht party was one of Gloria’s “special ideas” but her mum insists she is no spoiled brat. “She is a very kind person, always thinking about others,” Ms Zou says.
“Sometimes when I want to buy new clothes or toys for her, she says, ‘No, we could donate that money to others’.”
Gloria, who is learning French and Japanese and wants to be a diplomat, also garnered attention in February when, for Chinese New Year, she donated $5000 of her film and television earnings to the Starlight Foundation.
Zou family friend and business associate Malcolm Peters says Gloria has “a heart of gold”, is very mature and extremely focused for her age — and is always looking for ways to help disadvantaged children.
It was Mr Peters, as well as Senator Bob Day — who recently wined and dined the Zous in Canberra — who helped persuade Ms Zou to invest in SA and to send Gloria to school in Adelaide. She hasn’t been disappointed. “(Adelaide is) very clean and the city is very quiet and not noisy and the people are very friendly,” Ms Zou says. “(And) the principal from St Peter’s Girls is very good and her birthday is the same as Gloria’s.”
Mr Peters says Aus Gold, whose Australian interests include gold mining leases around Broken Hill, is soon to start production at a new granite mine in the Murray Mallee and has also taken over a jade mining operation on the West Coast. Ms Zou says she will likely employ 70 people in South Australia — and she is on the lookout for more investments here.
Her Aus Metals company part owns the China Australian Food Alliance, which partners with Adelaide agricultural consultant Arris to deliver training in Australian agricultural practices to China.
Adelaide University is in discussions with Aus Gold “about a range of partnerships, including potential scholarship support”.