By MILA CICHELLO
The Victorian Multicultural Commission (VMC) recognised more than 180 individuals and organisations for outstanding service to Victoria’s multicultural community at a special ceremony hosted by Professor David de Kretser AC (Governor of Victoria) on Tuesday 21 September 2010 at the Government House. Among those honoured with Meritorious Service to the Community Award (Individual category) are:
Mrs Fe Mannix – Founding Member and current Executive Committee Member of Filipino Australia Friendship Association of Geelong Inc (FAFAG), awarded for 29 years of outstanding voluntary contribution to the Filipino community in Geelong. Fe was a nurse in Geelong when she and a group of Filipino and Australian families established FAFAG in 1981 in order to provide social activities for Filipino and non-Filipino families, to promote Filipino culture and to foster multicultural harmony within the local Australian community. As the Club grew, Fe guided the Committee through some difficult times as the pioneering FAFAG members pooled their own finances and skills to build their own Clubhouse which has become an active community hub for Filipinos, Australians and other ethnic nationalities to the present day.
Bill and Nora McCarthy – Executive Committee members of Filipino Australian and Friends inc (Northern Victoria) or FAFA, for 27 years of outstanding voluntary contribution to the Filipino community of the Goulburn Valley. FAFA is a rural organization providing support and fellowship for Filipinos and their Australian friends and partners. Journalist Bill and wife Nora have been active members of FAFA since 1983. Both Bill and Nora travelled across rural districts in building up FAFA’s membership and worked hard in personally supporting the members over the years. Under Bill’s leadership, FAFA was instrumental in establishing the magnificent Philippine International House & Museum in 1988. When Shepparton Council development threatened the International Village in 1996, Bill fought hard over 2000-2008 to preserve the Philippine House which was saved with a heritage overlay. FAFA runs Philippine Language classes and cultural events throughout the year. Real life community heroes, Bill is now legally blind and Nora herself is recovering from a kidney transplant- but health issues have not dampened this remarkable couple’s lifelong passion for community service.
Perla Luetic – a Co-founder and current Principal of Philippine Language School (Braybrook), for 15 years of voluntary contribution to the Filipino community of Melbourne. The Philippine Language School (Braybrook) was established by a group of Filipino women in 1995 and is accredited with the Victorian Department of Education. Perla has actively administered the school in providing language classes and promoting Philippine culture to the Filipino community.
.
Francesco Cichello – Founding Member and Principal of the Associazione Culturale Aurora Inc, awarded for 41 years of outstanding voluntary contribution to the Italian community in Melbourne. Frank was Secretary of the Associazione Culturale Aurora Inc when it started the first Italian Language School with 30 students in North Fawkner in 1969. The Italian Language School is accredited by the Victorian Department of Education and the School takes pride in employing only qualified bilingual Italo-Australian teachers. A leader who shuns publicity, Frank believes that “The future generation will preserve the culture and language only if the present generation provides the reason to be proud of it.” Now 85 years old, Nonno Frank has dedicated his life to expanding the Italian School by linking it with mainstream schools across Melbourne. Students come from Italian, Australian and other ethnic backgrounds. Today, the volunteer Association runs 18 registered Italian Language Schools located in Altona, Box Hill, Bulleen, Bundoora, Coburg, Craigieburn, East Doncaster, East Keilor, East Kew, Fawkner, Keilor Downs, Kew, Mil Park, Point Cook, Rosanna, Rowville and South Melbourne.
