Venus Priest grew up in Iligan City, Lanao del Norte, Philippines. Because of her passion to help people, she enrolled and finished a Bachelor of Science Course in Nursing, and practiced privately for a number of years.

Arriving in Australia in 1995, she attained an Advanced diploma in Accounting with Western Sydney TAFE. She further qualified for Business Management.

Liberal candidate Venus Priest in a tough battle for Chifley

She has lived in Blacktown for 10 years and is a small business owner, running a Grocery Store at Hassall Grove. Having the store allowed Venus to develop a great understanding of people’s everyday needs, from her daily contact with families that come to her store. Their concerns were with the ever increasing cost of living – food, fuel, and electricity.

In an interview with Venus, she said, “Like the First Fleet Australians, I wasn’t born in Australia. But, I am now a very proud Australian, and I also am determined, to build a better Australia – through hard work and commitment. I will be vocal in my call for funding for Blacktown Hospital. Mental health needs serious attention. Studies have found that 1 in 5 people – millions of Australians, will suffer mental illness. Yet, only 1/3 of sufferers receive help from the Health Services. Mental health is in need of big help. I stand before the people of Chifley, to humbly ask for your support. Life is not all about ourselves; it is also about sacrificing for others.”

Venus has a real passion for the Blacktown community and has demonstrated, time and time again, this very commitment through her support and involvement with various Filipino Australian community groups including FAME, ILISA and Banag Banag. These organisations are directly focused on bringing support and understanding of Filipino and Australian customs, values and cultural understanding of both communities and to the wider and immediate community. Venus recently established a new organisation, the Australian Drug Outburst Control Association (ADOCA), to provide education for drug users and their families.

Dumped liberal candidate, David Barker, ran a religious comment against Muslim, Ed Husic. Sydney Morning Herald writer, Erik Jensen, followed a similar tract with his report, “Priest ‘Tough’ on Muslims”. Erik Jensen mentions that she is not involved with the Philippine Community Council of NSW. This in fact is true, but what has not been mentioned, is that the PCC-NSW is an organisation made up of Presidents of Filipino Associations, of which Ms Priest is not. This is a misleading statement.

The same reporter mentions Atoy Sayas, a known Labor supporter, saying that Ms Priest never properly finalised her membership with the Australian Philippine Chamber of Commerce. Venus Priest says that she was a member well before Atoy Sayas became the current president.

Mr Sayas’ meaning when he mentions Ms Venus not being “active politically” remains to be determined. The Liberal party selected Ms Venus because of her qualifications and her capabilities, not simply because she “knows” someone.

Unknown to some people, Venus Priest, like this writer, is a practising Catholic who grew up in a city where Muslims and Christians live in harmony and mutual respect. This harmony is displayed during Iligan City’s annual Feast of St Michael celebrated both by Muslims and Christians. St Michael is the patron Saint of Iligan City. Iligan, like the rest of the Philippines, is a melting pot of different races and religions. Blacktown, like Iligan is a melting pot of different races and religions.

Iligan City is known for its production of Green Energy care of the Maria Christina Hydro Electric Plant, the world’s largest mango fruit as listed in the Guinness book of World Records, and for its famous Suka Pinakurat, known around the world where Filipinos reside.

Filipinos around the world are known to be hard, diligent and honest workers. Venus Priest urges Australians, Filipino-Australians and other groups to leave their political agendas and self interest behind and focus on allowing her the opportunity to prove her words.

Australians love the underdog, the person who has a go. Venus Priest will be a blessing to Chifley.

*** Mitchell Badelles is Sydney-based and an active community leader and an exponent of Philippine heritage including Philippine martial arts.

Other post/s by Mitchell Badelles

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• Magellan induced a ‘current affair’ - January 21st, 2010