EMPOWERING LESS ADVANTAGED PEOPLE IN TWO PACKAGES
Roadie rides provide Oringo a watershed from the daily grind of business
January 2017 THE CANBERRA REPORTER | 3
COVER STORY
Roehl likes to play the way he works
EMPOWERING LESS ADVANTAGED PEOPLE IN TWO PACKAGES
THE same driving force that inspired a Filipino-Australian to start up a unique business in Canberra has turned him to road cycling : A concept of helping people at the lower rungs of industry and society .
Conder ’ s Roehl Ventura Oringo , 54 , now heads Canberra-based ServeGate Australia , a business he has been instrumental in establishing , as its chief operating officer and financial officer .
ServeGate was established as a collaborative business model unique in its industry , and possibly in Australia .
“ Its primary focus is to overcome the barriers that large customers have in engaging small and medium enterprise ( SME ) organisations ’ capabilities ,” Oringo said .
“ ServeGate is exploring other industry sectors as a potentially efficient cog in their supply chain , providing easy and cost-effective access to the capabilities of SME organisations .”
In over 13 years of working this business model , we have helped over 100 small and start-up companies grow to become medium to large organisations in Australian Defence Industry , he said .
Similarly , Oringo and road cycling mate Jerome Poblete founded the Canberra OZ Pinoy Roadies for the purpose of providing support to young carers , some of whom are only 12 years old , in the Canberra- Goulburn area .
“ The Roadies aim , besides health and fitness , is to raise funds through
St Vincent de Paul ’ s Everyday Heroes program to support between 100 and 125 young carers ,” he said .
In November last year , the Roadies cyclists ’ race from Penrith to Canberra raised $ 11,000 .
Road cycling was a health-andfitness choice Oringo made over the sports of soccer , cricket , and boxing . “ It suited my condition at that stage of my life ,” he said .
• ROEHL ORINGO , above , at the lead during one of his weekly runs with teammates . Inset , at an interview in the Pavilion On Northbourne recently .
Filipinos among Indigenous Australians
• Author Deborah Wall at the launch of her latest book at the exhibition gallery of Canberra ’ s National Film and Sound Archive .
Roadie rides provide Oringo a watershed from the daily grind of business
By GLORIA ROSS
CLOSE to 100 people gathered at Canberra ’ s exhibition gallery of the National Film and Sound Archive last month for the launch Deborah Wall ’ s latest book , Re-Imaging Australia - Voices of Indigenous Australians of Filipino Descent .
The Philippine Embassy and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade organised the book launch which attracted government
“ I found cycling fulfilled my needs best . My body could still handle the physical demands of riding a road bicycle .”
The social activity that went with road cycling provided Oringo a watershed from the daily grind of business .
But more , it opened another opportunity for Roehl Oringo to
serve people in need . •
officials , special guests , and the local press .
Wall is a Filipina-Australian journalist and researcher who has specialised in Aboriginal studies and oral history . She wrote the book with co-author Christine Choo .
The book reveals an almost forgotten bond between Filipinos and Australia ’ s indigenous community which goes way back in time . It uses oral histories and other primary sources to reconstruct the lives of the “ Manilamen ” from the Philippines and their progeny . •
ETHNIC AFFAIRS
Hands off Act to check racism
THE Federation of Ethnic Communities ’ Councils of Australia ( FECCA ) has voiced its strong opposition to any attempt to dilute section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act ( RDA ) in its submission to the Joint Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights ’ inquiry into freedom of speech in Australia .
Chairman Joe Caputo said there has been a notable rise in racism in Australia and any change to 18C would signal that racism was acceptable in the name of free speech .
Caputo said he was especially concerned about the growing hostility towards Muslim Australians and other minority groups in Australia . •
Eye on aging migrants in Oz
FECCA ’ s submission to the Government ’ s Aged Care Legislative Review highlighted the rapidly growing representation of migrant communities in Australia ’ s aged population .
By the year 2020 thirty percent of people over age 65 will be from CALD ( Culturally and Linguistically Diversy ) communities , giving an extra dimension of diversity to the future of aged care in Australia .
In this submission , FECCA continued to emphasise the importance of CALD representation at the most senior levels on Government committees and advisory groups relating to ageing and aged care , including the Aged Care Sector Committee . •
For a fairer parental leave
FECCA joined with 25 organisations to make a submission in response to the Government ’ s proposed Fairer Paid Parental Leave Bill .
The submission expressed concern over proposed amendments , arguing they effectively underminine current attempts to address the gendered wealth gap , improve women ’ s workforce engagement and ensure positive health outcomes for mothers and their children . •
Y HERE ’ S WISHING YOU ALL A PEACEFUL AND PROPEROUS NEW YEAR Y