One of Queensland’s most highly regarded leaders in the multi-cultural community has received another award for her community work.
Agnes Whiten is the former Chair of what was called the Logan City Migrant Neighbourhood Centre – now Multilink Community Services.
In 2002 she was awarded the Order of Australia Medal (OAM) and in 2018 she was made a Member of the Order (AM).
Last weekend the Queensland Filipino-Australian Arts Association presented Ms Whiten with the Award of Recognition for being the most recognised and well respected Filipino-Australian who became an inspiration, a role model and a mother figure to Filipino and other migrants.
“ Thank you very much for this. I thank the QF-triple-A and friends. You get so emotional! I had a stroke so I have Aphasia. I want to say something but it doesn’t come out immediately but I persevere, you know, you just keep trying.
During her time as the Chair of the Logan City Migrant Neighbourhood Centre Ms Whiten helped many migrants, including new arrivals from the Philippines, build better lives in Queensland.
One of those is Ruth Tagala Palmani (OAM) who became a Migrant Employment Officer at the Neighbourhood Centre.
“ I cannot forget the day she came to my house, after the panel deliberation was completed, to tell me I would be starting as a Migrant Employment Officer. My family and I were so happy that there was an opportunity for me to work in a meaningful job in the multicultural sector. I’m heavy emotionally. From then on I went from one job to another – 11 altogether and I developed skills in education and media”.
More than 50 guests attended the award ceremony at the Global Business Centre at Capalaba, in the Redlands.
Among the dignitaries were Alan Grummit, the former Honorary Consul General in Queensland for the Philippines. His replacement and relative Margaret Grummitt and a former colleague from the University of Queensland, Dr Mary Rose Cooney.
Many of Ms Whiten’s close family members were also there, including one of her two son’s, Joseph, and niece, Vicki Ravallo.
Ms Whiten was also the first woman from a migrant background to be elected to the University of Queensland Senate where she served for 9 years. (three terms) .
She was the first woman of migrant background to become President of the Australian Federation of University Women Queensland now known as Graduate Women Queensland.
Agnes is one of the early female members of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy which she joined while still in the Philippines, the American Institute of Mining Metallurgical and Petroleum Engineers and a Life Member of the Society of Metallurgical Engineers of the Philippines.
