Key Points
- Tasmanian Rachel Bessant was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 2019 for her service to children in the Philippines.
- Ms Bessant founded the Filipino Needy Children’s Fund to provide more charity for children and needy people in the Philippines.
- Her works include providing children's food and school supplies, medical assistance, and helping in construction of homes and school buildings.
LISTEN TO THE PODCAST
'Never did I think I would be awarded for an act of charity': Tasmanian Rachel Bessant recognised for her work for children, needy people
SBS Filipino
26/01/202020:25
Tasmanian resident Rachel Bessant vividly recalls how emotionally affected she was upon watching on the television how a landslide buried alive an entire school - 226 children and teachers - and took the lives of a total of 1,126 people in Guinsaugon, Southern Leyte.
A devastating natural disaster in 2006 changed the life of Ms Bessant, a native of Ormoc City in Leyte. After recovering from the emotional stress of seeing the catastrophic event, she quickly mobilised and was able to raise $13,000 in funds which she used to provide help to those who survived the landslide in her province.
Since then Ms Bessant has been regularly sending items - from clothes, and food to wheelchairs and hospital beds and eventually founded her charity the Filipino Needy Children’s Fund to provide more charity for children and needy people in the Philippines including feeding programs for about 3,000 school children. A charitable act she never thought would give her recognition.
Filipino Needy Children Fund Inc founder Rachel Bessant OAM Source: FNCFI
On Australia Day in 2019, she was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the General Division of the 2019 Australia Day Honours Lists for her service to children in the Philippines. Indeed a proud moment for Rachel Bessant to stand along with the other recipients some of whom are doctors and lawyers as she was the lone Filipino awarded OAM that year.
Rachel Bessant (right) after being awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 26 January 2019 with co-volunteer and charity supporter Martha Beard with Mayor of Launceston Abert Van Zetten Source: Supplied
Rachel Bessant tirelessly continues with her charity works providing help to many children and people in dire need in the Philippines and helping raise funds for victims of the Australian bushfires in particular the animals affected, she shares with pride that "never in her wildest dream she ever thought she will get an award like this" for she only aims to help those in need.
With her hard work, she has been awarded the Key to the City of Manilla, and recently as Pride of Ormoc along with other certificates of appreciation.
Rachel Bessant (in black dress) receives the Pride of Ormoc award from Leyte representative Lucy Torres-Gomes and Ormoc City Mayor Richard Gomez Source: FNCFI
LISTEN TO THE PODCAST
What is the Order of Australia, and who are some of the Filipino migrants recognised in the honours list?
SBS Filipino
27/01/202535:01
