NSW Member for Londonderry Mrs Prue Carr joined many other government officials and community leaders who congratulated recent Medal Order of Australia (OAM) awardee Mr Jun Relunia.
Four days after receiving the Penrith Australia Day Local Appreciation award, Filipino community leader Mr Jose Relunia was revealed by the Australian Governor General in today’s Australia Day celebration to be among the recipients of prestigious Order of Australia Medal (OAM) “for service to the Filipino community in New South Wales.”
Another OAM Award was announced for Dr. Zeny Sicat Edwards of Lindfield, NSW for service to community and heritage preservation.
Better known as President of the Philippine Australian Society of Senior Citizens, Inc (PASSCI), Mr Relunia of Werrington Downs, NSW will receive the Medal (OAM) Order of Australia in the General Division, says an announcement from the Australian Governor General’s web site.
Mr Relunia has been president of PASSCI since 2008, founding member of the Philippine Christmas (Pasko) Festival since 2016, 2014-2015 President of the Philippine Communities Council of NSW (PCC-NSW), 2014-2015 Member of the New South Wales Ministerial Consultative Committee, 2014 Vice-Chair of the Filipino Community Cooperative and Board Member of the same in 208-2014. Mr Relunia also writes a monthly column in a Filipino community newspaper in Sydney.
Mr Relunia was former President of Western Sydney Fil-Oz Association in 1997-19198. Member of the Multicultural Working Party in Penrith Council, , Peace Program Advisor for Community Engagement (Philippines) for United Nations Association Australia, President for 2005-2016 of Australian Devotees of Our Lady of Penafrancia (ADOLP), and Parishioner and Member of the liturgical Committee in St Nicholas of Myra Roman Catholic Parish in Penrith, NSW.
Soft-spoken Jun is son of the late Atty, Jose Relunia, Sr. who established PASSCI as the first and now long-running Filipino seniors citizens association in Australia. Many have already congratulated “Jun” on Facebook for the Australia Day award in Penrith, reflecting that he does deserve more significant recognition.
The Filipino recipient of another OAM . Mrs Zenaida Sicat Edwards was Director, Peace Program, United Nations Association of Australia, 2013-2018 and Chair, New South Wales Branch, UN Women Australia, 2011-2013.
Other positions: Organising Committee Member, 9th International Conference on Human Rights Education, , 2018: Vice-Chair, Institute for Global Peace and Sustainable Governance ; Goodwill Ambassador, Institute for Economics and Peace. President (2006-2008) National Trust (New South Wales);
Member and Chair, Historic Buildings Committee, 1998-2008; Member, Finance Committee, 2006-2008; Member, Conservation Committee, 2002-2008; Gold Life Member, since 1991. Historical Preservation; Member, History Advisory Panel, Heritage Council, Department of Planning (New South Wales), 2010-2013; Vice-Chair, Historic Houses Association of Australia, Director, Historic Houses Trust Foundation, 2005-2008; Author of ‘A Life of Purpose: A Biography of John Sulman’, 2017, ‘The Womens’ College: An Architectural History 1894-2001’, 2008 ‘William Hardy Wilson: Artist, Architect and Orientalist’, 2001; ‘The architectural gems of Warrawee’, 2000 and Six of the Best Architects of Ku-ring-gai’,
Other previous OAM awardees from the Filipino community were Mr Manny Castillo of PASC, Dr Julie Nunez of Philippine Australian Health Association and the late Atty Lolita Farmer.