The volunteer work of 26 Timor-Leste friendship groups from across Australia was recognised with the Order of Timor-Leste Medal at a special event held in Melbourne last Tuesday.
President, His Excellency Jose Ramos Horta, presented the awards.
The Order of Timor-Leste is the highest honour currently awarded by the nation. It recognises the contributions of East Timorese and foreign nationals who have made a significant contribution to Timor-Leste, the Timorese or mankind in general.
Muckleford resident Rae Kingsbury also received an Order of Timor Leste for her integral role in establishing the groups. They came about when Xanana Gusmau, a past president and now Prime Minister of Timor-Leste, was on his first visit to Australia in 1999 after being released from Indonesian prison; he met with Rae as the convenor of the Australian Local Government Association.
Xanana said he wanted to see the creation of ‘sister cities’ with Timor-Leste. Sister Cities are a formal structure between administrations of large municipalities, which Rae told Xanana would not be appropriate for that reason. Instead, she said, “We should create ‘Friendship’ cities”. Xanana asked “What’s that?”, to which Rae replied: “We will have to invent it”.
Louise Cook-Tonkin accepted the award on behalf of Friends of Lolotoe, established in 2009 and based in Mount Alexander Shire. Fran Wigley represented Macedon Ranges Friends of Turiscai, established in partnership with the Macedon Ranges Shire in 2008.
Both groups have events planned in the coming weeks and look forward to community support and would welcome new members.
A major fundraiser coming up for the Macedon Ranges group is the 27th Annual Kyneton Antique Fair, on Saturday and Sunday, September 6–7, the first weekend of the Kyneton Daffodil and Arts Festival, at the Quambi Stadium, Sacred Heart College.
Friends of Lolotoe will have their annual Hub Garden Fete on Saturday October 18 where you can buy a range of plants including vegetable seedlings, Native Newstead seedlings, a range of garden items, delicious cakes and a ticket in a local raffle. Donated plants are gratefully accepted.
The Bendigo Maubisse Friendship Committee, established in 2006, was also a recipient of the award.
