In 1972, the declaration of martial law in the Philippines caused many to seek a new life in Australia.
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From 1973, Filipino immigration to Australia increased significantly with the end of the White Australia Policy.
In a decade, the Australian Filipino population grew from 467 residents to 3455.
Archived copies of The Daily Advertiser provide a snapshot of the year Bebina Curtis arrived in the Riverina.
“Detectives investigating a string of sexual assaults in Wagga’s central city believe the same man is responsible for 12 attacks during the past three years. Both uniformed and plain-clothes officers are working around the clock on the case and hundreds of suspects have so far been interviewed during the inquiry. It is believed that the offence was probably the most consistent run of sexual assaults in the State for some time, especially in a country area.” – January 27, 1982.
“The first XPT train from Sydney to Wagga glides into Wagga station. Only a few people disembarked last night at Wagga from the inaugural return journey of what the State Rail Authority is calling ‘the greatest travel experience in the country’.” – August 24, 1982.
At the age of 18, Bebina completed a degree as a commercial radiotelephone operator in the Philippines.
“They asked lots of questions including, ‘what sort of job did you have in the Philippines?’ and ‘did your husband marry you through mail order bride?’.”
- Bebina Curtis
“I majored in telephony and after passing the official board examination, I began work at an AM-band radio station as a full-time radio technician,” she said.
“I also worked in university administration as a teller and at the same time undertook a second degree, a Bachelor of Science in Commerce, majoring in management.”
Bebina had no ambition to leave her life behind in the Philippines and start over again.
“I had a great job in the Philippines and also a wonderful family and friends over there,” she said.
This was to change, however, when Bebina met her future Australian husband during 1981 in Mindanao.
“While working in my third job as a telephone operator at the Anteliz Hotel, I met my future husband – Bill Curtis,” she said.
“In 1982, I graduated from my second degree and two months later arrived in Australia.”
Arriving in Australia on June 4, 1982, Bebina’s first impression of Wagga was of a small and very quiet town, which was initially too lonely.
‘I grew up in a big city with a population of 1.3 million so it was not easy to adjust,” she said. “I was homesick. It was the first time that I had been separated from my beloved family and I cried and cried every day and I felt like going home. It was like a ghost town.”
Bebina learned quickly that her new community was very curious and had some preconceived notions about her marriage.
“They asked lots of questions including, ‘what sort of job did you have in the Philippines?’ and ‘did your husband marry you through mail order bride?’,” she said.
“I had to look up what that meant. I was never offended by these questions and tried to answer these questions in a constructive way.”
Bebina said overall she felt welcomed by the community, but there were mixed feelings.
“Some people were really welcoming and some were not,” she said.
“I was never offended because people are entitled to their opinion and I understand it’s different cultures.
“One time I was walking on the main street and a man shouted ‘Go back where you came from’ and I just smiled and said ‘Yes sir, when I retire’.”
Sometimes Bebina struggled with the colloquial language and the fast speaking pace of the locals.
“A strange man would say ‘Hello mate’ and I was so confused,” she said.
“I remember one time when I was asked to bring ‘a plate’ to a barbecue and I was so confused as to why I had to bring my own plate. I brought an empty plate and no food and my husband said ‘no, no, no’ it means food.”
Bebina didn’t let her homesickness stop her and threw herself into contributing to the community.
From 1986 to 1990, Bebina worked as a casual employee in the Riverina-Murray Institute of Higher Education, now Charles Sturt University, departments of Student Administration, Registrar, Salaries and Human Resources.
“I was so lucky that they gave me the opportunity to work in different departments,” she said.
In 1991, Bebina has worked as a full-time library assistant at Charles Sturt University and completed a Level III Certificate in Library Information Studies in 2000.
“I have been working here for years and I love it,” she said. “I get to work with friendly people and dedicated and passionate students.”
The Filipino community has grown immensely since she moved here, Bebina said.
“We help one another when we arrive here,” she said.
In 2005, Bebina Curtis started the Filipino Cultural Dance Troupe Wagga.
“I started this after Father Thomas Casanova asked me to perform some Filipino cultural dances for a fundraising effort to support the Wagga Refugee Committee,” she said.
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“The troupe is based in Wagga and has been operating voluntarily for the past 13 years in the community assisting with a number of charities by providing cultural entertainment and community support through singing and dancing.
“It has helped more than 40 different charity organisations and community events in Wagga, for me charity is my life.”
The dance troupe has female dancers and nine children involved. Last year, Bebina decided to join two countries Philippines and Chile together, mainly children aged between three and 14, to perform the traditional dances.
Bebina still considers the Philippines to be her home, but loves Wagga dearly as her second home.
“Wagga is a lovely place and people are so friendly,” she said.
To any new members of the community, Bebina said she is here for support.
“Do not hesitate to give me a ring,” she said. “If you need something, I am here to help.”
Wagga is now home to community members from 112 different countries of origin, who speak 107 languages and practice 62 faiths.
Over the next three weeks, The Daily Advertiser will continue to share the stories of some of those who have moved to Australia, one from each decade. Some to escape war and devastation and some for love.
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