Under Way

Inspection Time

Top of the World

Locals Learning

Transport

Ready For School

Classroom

Group Photo

East Timor

Br Ted Magee has just returned from East Timor (Timor Leste) and has sent in this very encouraging meaasge.

Today there will be a public holiday in Timor Leste. It is the anniversary of the referendum which proclaimed the independence of this newest of nations – one nation of our five-nation Province of Oceania.

What did I see?

A new school build by ERN volunteers from three South East Queensland Schools

I saw the opening of a new school in Samalete Three – Eskola H. E. L. P. (Hutchinson, Edmund’s, Laurence’s, Patrick’s) – built by students and staff of the four groups in its name. The opening ceremony was a whole village occasion  - the ladies dancing; the chefes beaming; the teachers marshalling the students; the students singing; the parents preparing a celebration dinner; the members of CER all present and rejoicing in yet another significant development in their community of villages. Adrian Creedy (a builder from Ipswich volunteering for six months) and Bill worked with the team of students and teachers and staff from Hutchinson’s along with many local villagers in building the school.

Watch the ABC Stateline Program

Listen to the ABC broadcast on this project

A volunteers helping with a village industry  and playing a key role in the development of a trade school

I saw Sally working with the women in making cards at Railaco Craic. The Christmas cards are in full production. Sally also is looking after the handover from Norwegian Refugee Council of their building and work at Gleno with young men and women in trade preparation in Tourism, Hospitality, Agriculture and Administration. It is a transition time and many young Timorese are anxiously waiting the result of their applications.

A volunteer working with teachers in their preparation for the new school year

I saw Emily working hard at ensuring that our teachers at Deleco and Railaco Craic are prepared for the new term with curriculum and lesson planning to the fore. Emily is new with us having spent some time teaching the Timor Leste army.

Locals being empowered to take over the management of projects

I travelled with Richard to Taraco (22kms in 2 hours!) to meet with the Catechist who organises the installation and maintenance of the solar lights in that village. The people pay towards the upkeep of their lights and there is ownership of the enterprise. Richard also works with our 17 pre-school teachers and was organising an in-service for all this week.

New buildings to enable volunteers to continue to work in the area.

I saw the new additions at Samalete 1 & 2 which had been built by groups from Terrace and Rotary since I was last with the community.

We all were able to share a meal and stories one night and we were joined by Terry Beaton (Principal of Emmaus College, Rockhampton) who was spending two weeks of his sabbatical leave in Timor Leste.

CER is making a difference in the lives of so many in the hills of Timor Leste and the lives of the Timorese people will not be the same again. Our lives and the lives of all who have been a part of CER or who visit are changed forever as well.

Please keep our friends in Timor Leste in your prayers and continue your support for Bill, Richard, Sally, Adrian and Emily whose joy in all that they do is reflected in the smiles of the young and old of Timor Leste.

From Terrace Timor Network (TTN) – great supporters of our work in Timor Leste

Paul Cleary, journalist and author, has recently completed a book in relation to a small force of Australian Special Forces commandos that launched relentless hit and run raids on Japanese forces in East Timor for most of 1942. The book – The Men who Came out of the Ground – also explores the relationships between the soldiers and the Timorese. The link below has details about the book launch to be help in Brisbane on Friday 10^th September at Avid Reader bookshop.

 Paul has previously hosted events for TTN and is a long-standing friend of the Christian Brothers.  We thought you may be interested in attending this special event.