Ang Kalatas Volume V August 2015 Issue | Page 18

18 COMMUNITY THE MESSAGE. BRINGING INTO FOCUS FILIPINO PRESENCE IN AUSTRALIA www.kalatas.com.au | Volume 5 Number 11 | AUGUST 2015 PCC-NSW Team become greenies on National Tree Day THIS year marks the 20th year milestone for National Tree Day. Under the banner of Planet Ark Environmental Foundation, Blacktown City Council hosted 5 community planting events around the different wards on Sunday, 26th July , with PCC-NSW officers and members of Filipino- Australian multicultural groups helping to make a difference. PLANET Ark ‘s main objectives are to promote sustainable resource use, encourage low carbon lifestyles and connect people with nature. Their other main event is its high profile recycling campaigns including “ Cartridges 4 Planet Ark”. The PCC NSW team was led by President Evelyn Beed and Team Coordinator Alex del Prado. Their enthusiasm and camaraderie evident as they planted native seedlings at Moreau Reserve Rooty Hill. There were also students and other Community supporters from Couples for Christ and Ancop, who braved the cool breeze on Saturday morning, with the winter sun sending warmth to our greenie friends. Blacktown Council provided all plants, tools and APO AUSTRALIA APO Australia members took part in the National Tree Planting Day last month. The APO members joined other Filipino-Australian groups in helping reforestation within the Blacktown area. gloves. Blacktown City Council supports National Tree Day and like other councils and shires around the nation , residents plant locally native species to enhance our environment and extend habitat for native wildlife. Australia have planted over 22 million trees so far. Last year alone 4000 sites were open with over 300,000 community volunteers taking part. [Emily Rudd] Fun day at VAA anniversary Some came in their national costumes, others simply in their onesies. It was a fun-filled day for Visayans and their friends at the celebration of the 12th Foundation Anniversary of the Visayan Association of Australia Inc held in Liverpool recently. The event featured a day of entertainment, cultural shows and a costume party. VAA president Jhun Salazar said the VAA will conduct anew more feeding programmes in the Visayan region and continue supporting its scholarship programme in Leyte. The event also saw the coronation of the new Miss Visayas-Australia (related story on page 19). kalatas.com.au | youtube.com/user/kalatasak4to7