Filipino Settlement Coordinating Council of South Australia

The Hon. J.S. LEE (21:22): I move:

That this council—

1. Congratulates the Filipino Settlement Coordinating Council of South Australia (FSCCSA) on their work and contribution to the Filipino community of South Australia;

2. Pays tribute to the achievements made by the various Filipino community associations and community leaders based in South Australia; and

3. Acknowledges 120 years of Filipino settlement in Australia and the 70^th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Australia and the Philippines.

It is a great honour to rise today to move private members' motion No. 55 standing in my name, to acknowledge 120 years of Filipino settlement in Australia, and to congratulate the Filipino Settlement Coordinating Council of South Australia, and many other Filipino community organisations for their contributions to South Australia.

The Philippines is one of Australia's longest standing bilateral relationships. We have shared interests and values, supported by strong people-to-people links. The number of Filipinos living in Australia is fast approaching 300,000, with the Philippines the fourth largest source of migrants in Australia. At the 2016 census data, just less than 13,000 people born in the Philippines are living in South Australia, with 15,890 South Australians reported to have Filipino ancestry.

There are also over 10,000 Filipino students enrolled in Australian universities and vocational institutions. Australia and the Philippines marks 70 years of bilateral relations in 2016. Formal relations commenced with the opening of Australia's first Consulate-General office in Manila in May 1946.

Australia and the Philippines have a long history of bilateral collaboration. Australia, as a long-standing friend and neighbour of the Philippines, will continue to be a committed partner in the pursuit of sustainable development in the Philippines.

South Australia's Filipinos are strong contributors to our society, and this will continue to grow as more and more Filipino migrants look towards South Australia as their new home. South Australia has a strong representation of the Filipino community, and the state has benefited greatly from the contribution made by the Filipino community in the development of our state.

As the shadow parliamentary secretary for multicultural affairs, I have been very fortunate to have the opportunity to work with the community closely, and I treasure the warm friendships I have with many wonderful community leaders and members. One of those special friendships I have is with Aida Garcia. Aida is a very hardworking and prominent Filipino community leader. Aida Garcia was a founding member and inaugural chair of the Filipino Settlement Coordinating Council of SA and national president of the Filipino Communities Council of Australia, which is the peak umbrella organisation of all Filipino communities in Australia.

Aida has been, and continues to be, a strong advocate for the Filipino community. A practising lawyer and a registered migration agent, with her remarkable community contribution and work, Aida was awarded as one of the top 100 most influential Filipino women in the world by the Filipina Women's Network in 2014. This prestigious award recognises Filipino women who are influencing the face of leadership in the global workplace, and those of you who have had the pleasure of working with Aida will agree with me that Aida is a capable, energetic leader with great compassion for her community.

Aida's passion and commitment to the Filipino community in South Australia led her to be the founding chair of the Filipino Settlement Coordinating Council of South Australia, which is known as the state peak body by the Filipino Communities Council of Australia representing all Filipino organisations in South Australia. The establishment of the Settlement Coordinating Council occurred in 2003. Aida was elected as the founding chairperson and served in that position from 2003 to 2007. Other presidents who came forward to take on the leadership roles include: Joe Borlagdan, 2007 to 2009; Vickey Davey, 2009 to 2012; Maylin Superio, 2012 to 2013; Ben Hur Winter, 2013 to 2015; and the current president, Cynthia Caird, 2015 to 2017. Cynthia has been successfully re-elected for 2017 to 2019.

Since 2003, the coordinating council has developed a strong connection with all Filipino organisations in South Australia, with the ambition to focus on advancing and assisting the community. The coordinating council supports a total of 27 Filipino membership organisations in the metropolitan and regional areas of South Australia. These 27 Filipino organisations are the heart and soul of the Filipino community, and each organisation represents a focus on different services and issues that are required within that community. These include a number of social and welfare associations, schools, sporting groups and radio programs, as well as cultural organisations.

For instance, the Timpuyog Dagiti Ilocano of SA celebrated their 23^rd anniversary this year and the colourful Sampaguita Dance Group, which has always been a part of every major Filipino festival and major event, celebrated their 20^th anniversary this year. Each Filipino organisation provides a unique service, and I wish to thank each and every association for their representation and commitment to serve the Filipino community locally and disadvantaged communities back in the Philippines.

For example, in 2013, the Philippines were devastated by Typhoon Yolanda, and the coordinating council, working with the Filipino Communities Council of Australia, put together the South Australian Philippines Typhoon Appeal and other fundraisers to assist with the ongoing relief and recovery missions for affected communities in the Philippines.

The Filipino community is a very active and vibrant community that enriches the multicultural landscape of South Australia. In addition to many other events throughout the year, the Hon. Michelle Lensink and I have had the pleasure of attending Philippines Independence Day in the past, and in recent times the Philippines Fiesta has become a very popular festival and a great showcase for Filipino culture and traditions for all to enjoy. I would like to congratulate Cynthia Caird, the fiesta director, and her team for their outstanding organisation of the festival.

Last year, my parliamentary colleagues the member for Morialta (John Gardner MP) and member for Adelaide (Rachel Sanderson MP), both very hardworking members for their constituencies, and I attended the Philippines Fiesta in Victoria Square. It was packed with traditional Filipino dance performances as well as modern hip-hop dance by various groups, including children from diverse backgrounds. As a proud grandmother, one of my granddaughters performed in the dance that day. They did exceptionally well. I am looking forward to enjoying the festivities once again this year on this coming Saturday.

The success and longevity of the Filipino Settlement Coordinating Council of South Australia would not have achieved its success without a hardworking and outstanding committee. I would like to acknowledge and congratulate past and present presidents and committee members on their wonderful contributions. As a not-for-profit organisation that assists members with settlement, welfare and integration of Filipino individuals, families and new arrivals to South Australia, they are doing a marvellous job.

The current committee members I would like to place on the record are: Cynthia Caird, President/Chairperson; Ben-Hur Winter, Deputy Chairperson; Letty De La Cerna, Secretary; Marilyn Lynn, Assistant Secretary; Carlota Mendoza, Treasurer; Gerry Mendoza, Assistant Treasurer; Cynthia Vallejo, Business Manager; Cholly Winter, Press Relations Officer; Aida Garcia, Founding Chair/Adviser; Joe Borlagdan, Adviser; and Joy Goodridge, Auditor.

As a peak organisation supported by a wide network, the council strives to advance the social, economic and cultural life of the community through multiculturalism and social harmony. Through the hard work and dedication of committee members and volunteers, they deliver much-needed services and programs for the Filipino community in South Australia. I place my sincere thanks on the public record for these individuals and their families.

An organisation like this is really a big home to the community. Members become friends and over a period of time they become extended family members. The community share their highs and lows and their migrant stories here in South Australia which tie them together. They look towards each for love and support, and during sad times members offer a shoulder to cry on or a blanket of comfort by the whole community.

This support and love was fully displayed several months ago when Antonette McColl, one of the well-known community members of the Filipino community, lost her 12-year-old son, Scott, in a tragic house fire in Netherby. Antonette's husband, Donald, tried desperately to save their son but lost the battle because the fire was too ferocious. The Filipino community came together to offer assistance, prayers, support and comfort to the devastated McColl family. Scott will always be remembered by his family and everyone as a beautiful boy with great affection. Rest in peace, Scott. We will always hold the McColl family in our kind thoughts and prayers.

The sharing of sorrows, the community spirit and friendship extended to members of the community during difficult times demonstrated the strength of the Filipino community. The contributions made by Filipino migrants to South Australia is significant, not only from a social and cultural point of view but also economically. The economic contribution of the Filipino community comes from all walks of life and across different professions.

There are many achievers out there and I want to use this opportunity to highlight two individuals of Filipino heritage who have been identified as business leaders in South Australia. Many honourable members may already be familiar with the achievements of Mr Rudy Gomez. Mr Gomez is a Filipino-born mining magnate living in South Australia. He came over from the Philippines in the 1950s via the Colombo Plan.

In 2005, Rudy discovered the Carrapateena copper mine located in South Australia's Far North region. He significantly changed South Australia's mining sector, and sold the Carrapateena mine to OZ Minerals in 2011. As a successful business leader Rudy has strived to better the Filipino community through his ongoing support and commitment, and he has been a great role model.

The other business leader I would like to highlight is my dear friend Carmen Garcia, the proud daughter of Aida Garcia. Carmen is a highly skilled, multilingual and successful young mother of two. She was the former CEO of Multicultural Youth SA, and stood as a proud Liberal candidate for the federal seat of Adelaide. She currently runs an Australia-wide consultancy business and is committed to building and supporting the not-for-profit sector.

Her work in the community has been recognised with several community service awards, including the South Australian Young Achiever Award for Community Service in 2004 as well as Governor's Multicultural Awards. She was the 2014 South Australian Filipino Achiever of the Year and, more recently, Carmen was awarded the Telstra SA Business Women's Award in the category of Purpose and Social Enterprise in October this year. I would like to convey my heartfelt congratulations to Carmen Garcia and wish her all the best in her endeavours.

As honourable members can see, the South Australian Filipino community is an influential and community-minded group that makes a great contribution to South Australia. In closing I would like to congratulate the Filipino community and acknowledge the 120 years of Filipino settlement in Australia, as well as the 70^th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Australia and the Philippines. I commend this motion to the chamber.

Debate adjourned on motion of Hon. T.T. Ngo.