Migration Tribunal
To whom it may concern:
My name is Leonarda Espiritu Arirao. By way of personal introduction. My personal connection with Australia started when I was about fourteen (14) years old. My older sister Lutgarda “Lee” Pendleton came to Australia in 1988 and have two daughters who happened to be my nieces. I also have studied for 6 months in Year 10 in high school in Gosford, New South Wales when I was staying with my late mother Jovita in the early 1990’s.
Both of my nieces are now in their early thirties and have their own family & children. My late mother Jovita have also lived in Australia for twenty – one (21) years after her sudden demise at the age of 78 years old in August 15th 2012. I came to Australia to support my older sister whose also grieving and her marriage was on the rocks.
The year 2011, I came to visit Australia with my late husband Harry, to be at my niece’s 21st birthday in July 2011. It was a sort of reunion and stayed with my older sister in Queensland and Woy Woy, NSW Central Coast where our late mother lived for twenty-one (21) years.
The year 2018 was devastating for me personally as my husband Harry passed away at the age of 40 years old unexpectedly leaving behind our three (3) children.
I am a qualified Registered Nurse and currently working in NDIS and I also am paying for my youngest daughter’s schooling whose eight ( 8) years old. I personally feel that it will be beneficial and of close relationship between my children and their Australian - born cousins here in Australia as well as being of moral support with my older sister as she has been an Australian for nearly forty years (40).
I respectfully asked the Tribunal to consider my application to become an Australian resident and contribute to the best of my ability in the Australian culture and be also a part of the Filipino - Australian community. I also would like to reiterate and be considered as my Australian association goes a long way back and to be able to establish healthy family connection with my older sister and her daughters , grandsons, their partners who are all Australian citizens.
Thank you for your time and kind understanding. Thanking you in anticipation.
Kind Regards,
Leonarda Lorena “Ena” Espiritu Arirao
My veil is so intricate and so delicately embroidered.
