We have moved from the original phase, where we offered material assistance, to the present where the emphasis is on giving financial assistance to those we regard as key individuals and to fostering our widening number of Timorese and associated Australian relationships. Key individuals are seen as those who are likely to provide flow on benefits to others as mentors, income earners and leaders. We continue to encourage other like minded groups in Australia and provide advice when requested. Our preference now for most of our activities is towards education. In this regard we are mainly facilitators as most of the funding comes from other people, including some KVRP funds.

We continue to fund the Sandra Diaz family in the reconstruction of their house. Sandra is invaluable to us as a liaison person being centrally employed (Timor Diak Photo), “known to all” and a speaker of 5 languages. Her close association with the Balide Church and Father Armindo provide a valuable link to Remexio.

Stephen Turnock was asked to represent us in East Timor in June 2005 as we were unable to go. He stayed in Remexio, conducted repairs on the Uma Turismo, took solar lights as an experiment to an outlying village. He performed many tasks, linked up with our many friends and in particular, represented his former high school, Oxley College, in furtherance of Oxley’s current project of assisting 2 Los Palos schools. The pupils had raised $10,000 and was waiting to be spent. Stephen’s job was to determine how this might best be spent and report back to Oxley. Finally, presenting his own experiences would encourage Oxley students to maintain their interest.

Libby and Paul went to East Timor on 11th May 2006 but evacuated themselves on 19th May when “the situation” was clearly about to become dangerous. Another reason was that travel outside Dili was not safe and the disruptions within Dili were making it very difficult to achieve our intended tasks (though the time there was very beneficial for other reasons).


Examples from worklist (in no particular order):

• See Daryl re Remexio trailer lent to Rotary
  • See Jenny Coles re Ina (sponsored by Southern Highlands AFUW)
  • See Cesarina at Alola Foundation re scholarships at Bacau
  • Distribute dictionaries
  • Register at Oz Embassy
  • See Eduardo Belo re work experience in his workshop for scholarship students and about possible furniture exports to Australia.
  • See Aleixo, photograph machine parts wanted, discuss business promotion.
  • Visit Rudi and seek his assistance in advising Fernando about the pitfalls of trying to work in England. Also to seek his assistance in guiding and interpreting for the Oxley College contingent later in the year. Also about Antonia directing business Aleixo’s way from her fashion shop.
  • See Cecilio re Oxley trip to Los Palos
  • Discuss issues with Br Bill Tynan, especially solar lighting
  • Sister Gale re work for Aleixo in her village sewing centres.
  • Liaise with Jim Collins re solar before he returns to Natarbora
  • Visit Aires Almeida and discuss installing solar lights
  • Visit Arte Moris, follow up Stephen’s info
  • Travel to Remexio to discuss Uma management, solar lights for girl’s dormitory, visit solar experiment in outlying village, discussions with many people, identify an English teacher who might come to Aust for 3 months intensive English practice and in-school practice in teaching method. Visit Sr Tess Ward’s school.
  • See Br Adriano at Don Bosco College re the Remexio students plus next year.
  • Jill Hillary at Hyam Health
  • Luis re helping Fernando into an English course
  • Visit Anin Murak choir members
  • Check Vergilio’s health and gifts for Zephyr‘s baby
  • Swap DVD with Assis at CdeP Audiovisual
  • Visit Max Stahl re continued KVRP assistance.
  

A considerable amount of the above list was addressed but less was finalised. The only excursion outside of Dili was a day trip to Remexio. Unfortunately Sarah Winnan had been evacuated as had Amy Doyle and they would have been most valuable exchangers of information. We also had little interaction with the Remexio people as time was short and school was in. We did lunch with the Mendonca family and had a fruitful discussion with Maria and Joachim Fatima re the management of the Uma. A later discussion with Fr Armindo was even more beneficial. Los Palos was out of the question. I felt our many Dili friends really appreciated our coming at such a time, as a demonstration of solidarity (many NGO’s had departed). However they feared for our safety and our early departure was partly in deference to their concern. Also, many people had “gone to the hills” or were preoccupied with “the situation”.