REUBEN JOHN ANTOLIN, left, accepting a nursing award from ACT Health chief nurse Veronica Croome at International Nurses; Day celebration,

NURSING student Reuben John Antolin received an award for his contribution to the profession of nursing and midwifery during celebrations of the 2017 International Nurses’ Day recently.

Antolin is a third-year full-time student at the University of Canberra and works part-time as a nursing assistant for the ACT Nursing Agency.

ACT Health chief nurse Veronica Croome presented the award to Antolin.

Supervisors and colleagues said they admired the Filipino student for his dedication and passion towards his work.

“ To become a good nurse you must possess the necessary knowledge, skills and attitude,” Antolin said at the presentation.

“ I believe that as nurses we always have the opportunity to save lives and provide the best possible care for our patients, which enable them to feel better and have a positive outlook in life.” 4 BIANCA MONTIEL

By MARILIE BOMEDIANO

IT TAKES remarkable creative talent and gumption in the industries of science and technology to make a mark in the area of civil aviation design engineering, a perceived strictly male domain.

To see a young woman move in and shake the system to become one of a few‘ top guns’ in the business is utterly remarkable.

After only four years out of Canberra Institute of Technology, Kingston’ s Celeste Oringo Cumberland has already designed major development projects at Canberra, Brisbane, and Gladstone airports.

Among some of Celeste’ s responsibilities have been master planning, aeronautical impact statements, establishment and maintenance of airport occupancy charts, navigational aid positioning and protect surface modeling, jet blast assessment, special event planning, aviation and security planning, traffic management for construction works, service integration, and more.

She recently designed the parking and runway modifications for the introduction of international flights into Canberra by Singapore Airlines.

Celeste now works for engineering consultants SMEC as a civil aviation designer in Canberra.

“ When I was a child,” she says,“ I used to want to race cars or be a professional athlete, both of which require starting from a young age and training intensely, which I didn’ t get to do.

CELESTE CUMBERLAND

“ When I finished Year-12, I was successful in an application for a trainee-ship with a small business that provided airport operation, planning and design services.”

Being one of the very few females in the industry, she says:

“ Women make up around 12-13 percent of engineers in Australia, and it is definitely noticeable in the aviation / engineering field that it is male dominated. The aviation specialists that I work primarily with are usually men.

“ I got used to this in the first few years of my career.

“ Occasionally, I come across men who act condescendingly towards me and underestimate me, but they are few and far between.

“ My team is very supportive and try their best to give me any help or advice I need to succeed, which I am very grateful for.”

Celeste finds her work fascinating.

“ It is always challenging me to grow,” she says.

“ I have always had passion for aviation and consider myself very lucky I was able to find a job in this niche industry.”

For extra-curricular activities, Celeste is into different kinds of cycling- like cross country, downhill and BMX racing“ as well as spectating and participating in motorsports and working on cars”.

Celeste used to take part in many Filipino community activities in the ACT( Celeste can speak in Tagalog) and was a member of the Randanihan rondalla for years.

Now she is only occasionally rides with the Canberra Pinoy Cyclists and attends Rondanihan performances.

Celeste was born in Blacktown NSW to an Australian mother and a Filipino father who now live in the ACT suburb of Conder. •