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GALLERY: Hunter Filipinos celebrate 40th anniversary in style

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It is said that Filipinos really know how to party.

Well, the Philippine community in Newcastle, and neighbouring Hunter, proved this to be true earlier this month at the Belmont 16 Footers Club.

The members and friends of the Filipino-Australian Society of the Hunter Valley Inc (FASHVI) came out and celebrated their 123rd Philippine Independence Day, the 40th anniversary as an organisation in the Hunter and the 160th birthday of their national hero Dr Jose Rizal at a gala evening attended by 294 people.

The evening was a glittering occasion studded with cultural dances, competitions, prizes, dancing and a three-course meal.

President Rebecca MacDonald said FASHVI usually hosted an Independence Day function every year, bar the COVID-19 impacted 2020, however 2021 was “really special”.

“It’s our 40th anniversary as an organisation,” she explained.

“It is the major fundraising event for our almost 500-member strong group that has been continuously operating since 1981.

“The funds go towards maintaining and extending our multi-function Hall and supporting our members.

“FASHVI purchased an old church building at 27 Fourth Street, Boolaroo, in 1994 and have extensively renovated it over the years so we can serve our members and the wider community.

“We are one of the oldest Filipino community organisations in Australia and we are the only Filipino association that owns its own hall.

“It is also regularly used by other members of the community such as sewing groups.”

Special guests at the event included the Shortland federal MP Pat Conroy, his wife Keara, Lake Macquarie state MP Greg Piper, his wife Lyn, Hunter Multicultural Communities vice-president Alek Schuhla, and Caroline Gibbs and Jaqueline Sanders from The Mutual Bank, the major sponsors of the function.

Mr Conroy presented FASHVI with a cheque for $10,685 as the group had recently been successful in its applications for two federal grants (the Stronger Communities Grant and the Volunteer Grants) to upgrade the hall.

Mr Piper and his wife were on the judging panel for the Best Filipiniana Dress competition, which was hotly-contested.

Filipiniana is the traditional national dress for Filipino women which was worn by many of the female guests on the night.

Many of the men wore the traditional Barong Tagalog.

The 2021 Independence Day event, which offered a major raffle first prize of a return air ticket for two to the Philippines, raised more than $5,000 for FASHVI.

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