Ku-ring-gai Council in Sydney’s north has named a Filipino-Australian as its ‘Citizen of the Year for 2017’, further bringing to the fore the positive contributions of Filipinos to Australia.
Architectural historian Dr Zenaida (Zeny) Sicat-Edwards receives the honour 26 January at the Council’s Australia Day festivities at Bicentennial Park, West Pymble.
The Council’s Director Community Janice Bevan advised Dr Edwards of her win.
Journalist Evelyn Opilas nominated Dr Edwards and was also notified.
In her nomination, Ms Opilas informed Ku-ring-gai Council, winner of The Bluett Award in 2014 for excellence in local government, that Dr Edwards exemplifies what a contributing Australian can be.
“Migrating from the Philippines many years ago, Dr Edwards, along with her family, has always called the Ku-ring-gai Local Government area home and the base for her many local, national and international endeavours,” Ms Opilas said.
“On a local level, Dr Edwards has promoted the architectural heritage of Ku-ring-gai through publications and heritage advocacy through the Ku-ring-gai Council Heritage Committee, the Historic Houses Trust, the National Trust and the Eryldene Trust.
“She has written about the Council’s notable residents, focusing on architects and photographers, including Harold Cazneaux, John Sulman, William Hardy Wilson, Walter Liberty Vernon, Augustus Aley and many more architects who shaped the architectural scape of Ku-ring-gai. She promoted sustainability of the environment through observance of the International Day of Forests through tree planting ceremonies at local schools and at the Ku-ring-gai Wildflower Garden.
“As an Architectural Historian, Dr Edwards maintains her connection to the arts, sciences and heritage through leadership roles with the SPUN Architects Network, the Furniture History Society, the Art Gallery of New South Wales, the Mitchell
Library of NSW, the Historic Houses Trust and the National Trust of Australia (NSW) of which she was president and where she was awarded its highest honour of a Gold Life Membership.
“Dr Edwards has published many books on architecture, biography and heritage which sit at the reference sections of the National Library of Australia and the various State libraries, among them biographies, historical indices and monographs of architects and architecture.
“Her concern for human rights, in the meantime, has led to a range of roles including past chair of UN Women Australia NSW Chapter, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, and as founding member and trustee of Women’s Plans Foundation, a charitable trust which advocates a family planning component for all overseas aid programs in the Asia Pacific Region.
“As a philanthropy facilitator Dr Edwards raises funds for numerous charitable causes and in so doing has also become a principal benefactor to a number of causes she engages – and believes – in, including assisting with the fund-raising projects of the Rotary Club of Sydney during the annual Anzac Day March within Sydney’s central business district.
“As the Director of the United Nations Association of Australia (UNAA) Peace Program, Dr Edwards promotes the significance of peace through creative and unique events that resonate with the general public and focusing on the education sector and school kids.
“Dr Edwards has shown commitment to the values that make Australia what it is and for this reason, she would be a worthy recipient of Ku-ring-gai Council’s Citizen of the Year Award.”
Both Dr Sicat-Edwards and Ms Opilas are alumnae of St Theresa’s College, Quezon City and the University of Technology, Sydney.