THE PHILIPPINE COMMUNITY HERALD NEWSPAPER
AFCS supporting Filipino artists and expanding outreach to Gippsland seniors by Maria Smith ( Victoria ) ... From Page 19
and includes the Young Generation ( YG ), Australian Multicultural Seniors Support Group ( AMSSG ), Filipino Australian Association of Ballarat , social support and seniors groups in St Albans , Cranbourne , Boronia , Knox , Doveton , Springvale , Footscray and Shepparton , Home Care clients and families , online prayer and exercise groups .
In most recent times , the AFCS has revitalized and expanded outreach to Gippsland seniors to increase their social participation and reduce social isolation among Filipino carers and seniors , thanks to the Victorian government ’ s monthly social support funding . It was more than 10 years ago when the AFCS helped establish the Gippsland Multicultural Carers and Seniors Social Support Group Inc . and evidently , the need for this social support service cannot be underestimated particularly in regional Victoria and other remote areas .
The AFCS has also reached out to Tamil Seniors group in Oakleigh to learn more about various platforms to enable them to communicate with their loved ones . Thanks to our international students and volunteers who conducted the training . AFCS Chaplain Norminda Forteza has been instrumental in the creation and delivery of these social support service programs . In celebrating the National Volunteers Week , Chaplain Forteza has recognised and thanked the commitment of volunteers for their time and effort , to reconnect with the family of volunteers and appreciate their dedication , and together to reimagine how as a notfor-profit and charitable organisation , the AFCS can support volunteers and communities , rain or shine . THANK YOU AFCS VOLUNTEERS FOR DEDICATING YOUR TIME TO HELP OTHERS . MORE POWER !
Canberra Diaries by Volet Carolan .. From Page 18
Lance and Ella Bleach celebrating their 55th wedding anniversary
Canberra Review by Bimbi Flor ... From Page 18
55th wedding anniversary celebrations of Lance and Ella Bleach with girlfriends
Earlier in April , we celebrated belated birthdays of good friends Lulu Turner and Vicki Sheard at Salu- Salo Restaurant . While they provided the delicious food , we provided the uncontrollable laughs ! We then moved the party over to our ‘ always gracious ’ Noonee Doronila ’ s house in Scullin for an in-depth planning for our next Sydney adventure later in the month .
As I end , just a quick shout out to the Philippine- Australian Association committee and volunteers who braved the weather on Saturday May 1 , 2020 to run a Sausage Sizzle @ Bunnings in Fyshwick . The PAA raised much needed funds to benefit Gawad Ka-
44 -- THE PHILIPPINE COMMUNITY HERALD NEWSPAPER -- MAY 2021 -- 44
linga ’ s community feeding programs in the Philippines . The event was just one of the many fundraising community projects organised for the year . Another one in the calendar is a BINGO afternoon at the Seniors ’ Club in Phillip scheduled for Saturday , May 22 2021 , hosted by my better half . Now that ’ s one I ’ m looking forward to because while he ’ s not new to hosting , he ’ s never done BINGO ! Makes me think if he even knows how to play it . On that note , take care , keep reading and be inspired .
FOR EFFECTIVE ADVERTISING , TEL . ( 02 ) 9725 7722 ; 041 119 6264 ; E : pcherald @ iinet . net . au W : pcherald . com . au Fb : Philippine Community Herald News grandchildren ... that ’ s more reason to celebrate . On a sad note we remembered our friend Perlita Swinbank on her 5th death anniversary . Friends came to lay flowers on the the sunny morning of the 1st of May . I miss her so much as I go over her photos during our trip to her hometown in Catbalogan where she helped a lot of relatives and the kababayans . Perlita is special . Anzac Day we were in the Gold Coast . Our first trip into Queensland this year without border restrictions . It ’ s still the best holiday destination is Australia .. we stayed at the Royal Pines resort which was fantastic with several restaurants within the resort so we ordered room service some nights too . It ’ s 10 minutes by Uber from Surfers Paradise where another group of friends stayed . We went shopping , visited family and friends . The shopping was great . Oh I almost forgot on the 13th of May I attended mass and rosary prayers during the pilgrimage visit of our Lady of Fatima in our parish being the 100th anniversary of the apparition at Fatima . We prayed for the victims of COVID-19 and for the priests . The Fatima is also the patron saint of our Kasibulan Village in our hometown in Cainta . Would have 45 years since we first moved there . Lovely memories there with my family where my dad Achilles Natividad started the construction of our chapel . I pray that our journey through COVID will be successful so we can go back to enjoy life with our families which have been separated from us for more than a year now . Stay safe and healthy . Get that JAB ... I am getting mine .