Atty. Lolita L. Farmer is a renowned and respected leader and professional who is known for her voluntary services to the Filipino-Australian community in New South Wales, Australia. Recognizing her invaluable contributions, the Philippine and Australian governments, and several private and religious groups have given her numerous citations and awards. Among them were the Community Relations Commission of New South Wales which conferred the “Award for Volunteering 2001” for her outstanding contribution to volunteerism in New South Wales. The same award was granted to her by Prime Minister John Howard of Australia during the 2001 International Year of Volunteers. In 1982, the Philippine Ministry of Tourism and Philippine Jaycees chose her as one of the Outstanding Filipinos Overseas in the field of Humanities. In 1981, she was the first Filipino to receive the Order of Australia Medal (OAM) from Queen Elizabeth II for her services to the welfare of migrants.
Born in Catbalogan, Samar, Atty. Farmer obtained her Bachelor of Science in Education at the Sacred Heart College and Master in Public Administration at the University of the Philippines. After working at the Department of Education and the House of Representatives in the Philippines, she migrated to New South Wales, Australia in 1973. She took her Diploma in Law at the NSW College of Law and became a solicitor.
In order to better reach out to Filipinos, Atty. Farmer initiated the inclusion of the Filipino language radio program at the Special Broadcasting Service (SBS). The Filipino program keeps the Filipino-Australians abreast with the latest news from the Philippines and other issues which are of significance to the community. The Filipino program is one of the 68 language programs of SBS broadcast across Australia six times a week. Other than her contribution to broadcasting, she has also been a columnist of the Philippine Community Herald Newspaper since 1994. She was also a contributor of Kawayan, Ethnic News Review, Pilipino Magazine and the Philippine Community News from 1987 to 1993.
Being an influential voice in issues concerning women and migrants, Atty. Farmer was appointed by the Australian Federal and State Government as member of NSW Women Advisory Council and NSW Equal Opportunity Tribunal. She was also appointed as the United Nations representative of the International Pan Pacific South East Asia Women Association, and to various positions in the Western Sydney Region Advisory Council and the Parramatta Granville Sportsground Reserve Trust. She appears in government consultations which focus on the interest of Filipino immigrants.
Atty. Farmer was involved in organizing the Voice Out, A Conference On, For and By Filipino-Australian Youth which served as an opportunity for Filipino-Australian youth to interact and develop cross-cultural understanding. To empower women on their rights, she conducted a speakers’ bureau on Women and the Law in partnership with the Law Society of New South Wales. Participants from women’s group have raised their awareness and knowledge on topics of family law, domestic violence and discrimination issues. She initiated the establishment of Hiyas ng Bayan, a child care centre for which she has lobbied funding from the Federal Australian government. Hiyas ng Bayan is the only child care centre in Australia under Filipino management.
As President of the Philippine Community Council of New South Wales, Atty. Farmer thought of helping the victims of Payatas tragedy by establishing The Filipino Australians in New South Wales Trust Banks in partnership with the Opportunity International Australia. The program has raised funds that provided micro-credit, training and support facilities to the residents of Payatas, Quezon City.
In conferring the Banaag Award to Atty. Lolita L. Farmer, the President recognizes her exemplary work to uphold the rights of Filipino migrants and women in Australia, and her unique contribution to help residents of Payatas through the establishment of The Filipino Australians in New South Wales Trust Banks.
