She'd waited five long years for sponsorship and, instead of an exciting new life, found herself in a small rural town with no car and nothing to do.
“I was depressed for three months because I couldn’t work until my visa changed,” she said.
“My friend was enticing me to apply for a job here but I was single and wanted to explore the city.”
Itchy for excitement, Princess secured a job in Melbourne and sped toward the bright lights. But she soon found herself longing for that quiet community from which she'd fled.
In the Philippines, Princess would regularly escape to her family’s ‘rest house’ farm, where chickens and pigs roamed between rice fields.
She realised it was a peaceful life, in nature, that made her truly happy.
“I came crawling back to my friend, who was a manager in Edenhope, and asked for the job,” she said. “It’s really weird that I’m happier here, but the aura is nice and I feel stable in this place.”
Princess credits a “very friendly community” and supportive peers within Lakeside Living care facility for making her feel welcome.
Although she misses Melbourne’s shopping and cuisine, there are always workarounds.
“We need to go to Asian stores in Melbourne and fill the car full,” she said. “That’s why the Filipinos here all have big fridges, sometimes two big fridges!”
But Princess’ diet is also changing, to include far more beef and salmon.
“Only rich people can eat salmon in the Philippines, so I take photos and show them,” she laughed.
When she is not working, Princess can be found sitting by Lake Wallace with a good book.
She also plans to revive her love of golf and is working up the courage to approach Edenhope Golf Club.
“I’m still single but the peaceful life is better; if it’s meant to be I’ll find someone here,” she said.
“I’m thinking now, I’ll be here until I retire.”
Grampians Health Edenhope is a one-stop shop for health care in the surrounding community and provides a range of on-site services or hosts visiting services. The aim is to provide as many services in the community as possible to minimise the amount of travel that people need to undertake to stay healthy.
Grampians Health acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which we operate, the Wadawurrung, Djab wurrung, Wotjobaluk, Jaadwa, Jadawadjali, Wergaia and Jupagulk peoples, and their connections to land, waterways and community. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend this to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today. Grampians Health recognises and values the contributions that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples make in our society. Sovereignty has never been ceded. It always was and always will be, Aboriginal land.
Grampians Health is committed to providing inclusive services and an inclusive working environment. We believe in equity of healthcare for all.
Grampians Health is a registered NDIS provider.