News updates: Alliance of Philippine Community Organisations Inc.

APCO receives Volunteer Awards from the Greater Western Sydney Volunteer of the Year Awards 2016

By Richard J Ford- PRO –APCO Inc.
Sydney-Australia
September 24, 2016



APCO Officers Dr Cen Amores, Glorina Papaioannou and Ruben Amores joined other ASCON Inc members in receiving Certificates of Recognition as Outstanding Volunteers of the Year at a simple Ceremony held at Parramatta RSL last 30 August from the Department of Community and Family Services Centre for Volunteers.

The annual awarding ceremony is held to encourage and recognise the many valuable and indispensable contributions given voluntarily by civic spirited individuals and groups. According to a study conducted in AUBURN LGA, more than S15 million worth of services that include time, expertise, logistical, financial assistance, in-kind donations, personal and emotional supports are given freely by the voluntary community workers within a year in Auburn alone.    

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APCO to hold a public picnic in Auburn Botanical Gardens

The Alliance of Philippine Community Organisations Inc. (APCO) is inviting the multicultural public to a Filipino-style picnic at the Auburn Botanical Gardens on Chisholm and Chiswick Roads, Saturday 22 October 2016.

This picnic lunch is part of the yearly Flavours of Auburn traditional multicultural food festival where various organisations who are members of the Auburn Small Community Network Inc. cook and share their unique traditional food for sharing to the general public to promote friendship and harmony among all communities and peoples.

Entry to the park is free and Filipino food maybe bought at economical prices and enjoyed under the trees or on sheltered tables within the beautiful surrounds. There are many free and unlimited parking areas for the public. The array of food to be cooked by APCO members are: BBQ pork and chicken, chicken and beef empanada, fried lumpia, vegetable atchara, rice, biko and sago-gulaman drinks. Samples of Filipino traditional dances and musical performances will be performed by known local artists and talents. Games and other activities for children may also be organised. 

Auburn Botanical Gardens is also the site of the famous Japanese Garden section which celebrates the flowering of its many beautiful cherry blossom trees during early spring. It also got aviary, a zoo and an art gallery.

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Filipinos helping to shape the new Cumberland Council

Some members of the Filipino-Australian community residing within the newly-formed Cumberland Local Government Area which now consists of the former Granville, Auburn and Holroyd council areas have been actively participating in various meetings and community consultations to decide on various matters to improve government services in the enlarged area.

Ruben Amores, founding President of the Kapit-bahayan Co-operative Ltd which got 4 cluster of houses within the LGA attended several community consultation meetings and workshop. He was also representing the Auburn Small Community Organisation Network as its president. Dr Cen Amores, founding president of APCO Inc also attended in several meetings aimed and focus groups aimed at formulating the initial Development and Strategic Plan for Cumberland.

Cumberland LGA is consists of all the suburbs of Auburn: Auburn, Lidcombe, Berala, Regents Park, Rookwood, suburbs of Granville such as Granville, South Granville, Westmead, Wentworthville, Pendle Hill and Holroyd which includes Merrylands, Guildford, Greystanes, Girraween, Pemulwuy,  Yennora and Chester Hill.