Filipino Australian Community of Albury Wodonga president Josie Maxwell said a large number had settled under the Skilled Migrant visa scheme.

“Some are buying houses and paying off mortgages, while their children, either born here or in the Philippines, are mostly pursuing university courses or higher qualifications,” she said.

Rommell Colle and his wife Mary Jean, who migrated to the Border under the Skilled Migrant program four years ago, are building a home in West Wodonga.

A diesel mechanic, Mr Colle has worked for Wodonga truck dealer Jacob Hino since they arrived on the Border.

“I like the people around me; we’re happy to work with each other and there are no dramas,” he said.

“The company is very good at looking after the employees.”

Another mechanic Maximo Velasco, who migrated to the Border under the same scheme early in 2013, said his family had easily settled into Wodonga. 

He got a job with Jacob Toyota Wodonga, his tertiary educated wife Maria Ethel retrained to work for Bright Horizons Australia Childcare Wodonga while their daughter Eunyce Maxene, now 10, attended Wodonga West Primary School.

“Australia is a very good country and a very generous country,” he said.

This week they settled on a block of land and will start building their home soon.

Both families said the Filipino Australian Community of Albury Wodonga had provided an important network for them to meet other people.

The group will host its 10th annual Fiesta Filipina in Albury on Saturday.

There will be traditional music, dancing and entertainment in the auditorium at the Commercial Club from 7.30pm. Guests can buy food at the Sevens Restaurant and take it to the auditorium.

The event is open to the public.

The main raffle prize is return tickets to Manila.

For details contact Maria on 0438 636 306.