Dai Le (Fowler, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As the first Independent member for Fowler, I was naturally honoured and feel very proud to be part of the Filipino and Slovenian communities' celebrations over the weekend to mark the countries' independence and national days. The Philippines Australian Society for Senior Citizens Inc., or PASSCI, celebrated Independence Day at Our Lady of Rosary hall in Fairfield with cultural dance and food.

I didn't know this but the Filipino community has two independence days, one on 4 July, which marks the end of the American occupation in 1946, and the other on 12 June to celebrate the day the island broke free from Spanish rule in 1898. The Filipino see 12 June as their rightful day of independence. There are more than 3,400 residents of Filipino heritage in our Fowler community, and I hope they had a wonderful celebration of independence with their families—and, rest assured, I know the feeling!

The Slovenian Australian community also celebrated their independence day on 25 June to mark the day the country broke free from Yugoslavia in 1991 to be an independent state. It was wonderful to be in the company of His Excellency the Ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia, Mr Marko Ham; Mark Stariha, the New South Wales Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Slovenia; and local dignitaries, including the Mayor of Fairfield, Frank Carbone; President of the Triglav subcommittee of Mounties Group Director, Peter Krope, and Dale Hunt, CEO of the Mounties Group. It was a great weekend. I thank the communities for giving me these opportunities.