On a December day at 4:30pm precisely, the prayers of a group of Ballarat residents were answered.

Jack Yang, the western Victorian city’s beloved tai chi teacher, and his wife Shirley Jin were granted permanent residency visas.

Mr Yang has been a fixture in the local park since 2018, leading free tai chi classes every morning.

People doing tai chi in a park.

Jack Yang offers free tai chi at Lake Wendouree every day without fail. (Supplied: Jack Yang)

But he has been fighting for the past three years to stay in Australia, after his visa application was rejected in 2022.

Mr Yang has been on temporary bridging visas ever since.  

“You live in [Ballarat] in harmony, everything is so beautiful and you do not want to go,” he said.

“The longer you stay, the harder it was to leave; not just the country, or the city, but the people here, the community.

“They are so kind — they treat me like a brother, and my wife a sister.”People doing tai chi in a park.

Jack Yang had no idea he would get permanent residency and thought his visa was going to expire. (Supplied: Jack Yang)

Mr Yang’s students banded together to create a committee solely tasked with keeping the tai chi master in Australia.

“[Local federal member] Catherine King called me and said, ‘Tony Burke has approved your application for permanent residency,'” Mr Yang said, beaming ear to ear.

“I was thrilled … I immediately stood up and danced.

“My heart was beating fast and tears came streaming.”

The community has recognised his efforts with several awards, including 2023 Informal Volunteer of the Year and the 2024 Victoria Multicultural Award and Ballarat Seniors Award.

A community champion

Tai chi is an ancient Chinese martial art that focuses on balance, strength and mindfulness.

Mr Yang can be found at Lake Wendouree every morning offering free tai chi classes, rain, hail or shine.

People doing tai chi in a park.

The community banded together to advocate for Jack Yang to stay.  (Supplied: Jack Yang)

Jennie Daly attends Mr Yang’s classes nearly every day.

“Just the thought of losing Jack — that early morning tai chi means so much to so many people,” she said.

“A lot of people live on their own, and the tai chi group are the first humans they see for the day.

“Jack is such a welcoming teacher, he knows everyone’s name and just the thought of not having that, we just couldn’t bear it.”

The students formed a committee to advocate for Mr Yang and his wife’s visa to be extended.

“Everyone seems to know him,” Ms Daly said.

“He helps so many people, so many groups, so we wanted to see what we could do at a grassroots level because we just couldn’t bear to lose Jack.”

An impossible dream

For Mr Yang, getting a permanent residency was a far-off dream.

A group of people doing tai chi in the park, some dressed as Santa Claus and elves.

Jack Yang says getting a permanent visa was the best Christmas present he could have hoped for. (Supplied: Jack Yang)

“When my visa was rejected [in 2022] I bought tickets to fly back to China, and they [his students] said, ‘Jack if you do not want to go we’ll help you stay,'” Mr Yang said. 

“I said, ‘How come, I have no visa’; they said, ‘We’ll find an … [immigration] lawyer to help you’.

“My immigration lawyer said, ‘Oh, it’s impossible Jack, the chance is nearly zero, it’s too hard you cannot get it.”

Man in tai chi uniform doing tai chi moves.

Jack Yang has won awards for his volunteering. (Supplied: Jack Yang)

For the community of Ballarat, Mr Yang’s visa victory is something worth celebrating. 

Mr Yang has invited more than 400 guests to his celebration at Lake Wendouree.

“I spent two hours sending out invites, including [for] Catherine King and the local mayor,” he said.

Mr Yang said he would love to become an Australian citizen.

“One day if I really become an Aussie, I will feel so proud from the bottom of my heart — I’d feel so good!”