Some links and a circus

Timor Adventures

Fancy travelling Timor by Motorcycle? David and Shirley Carlos at Timor Adventures are offering a new tour - visiting community projects and seeing as much of the country as possible.



naTerra

naTerra are a Maucau based organisation focusing on projects in Baucau. You can read their newsletters here.

Friends of Aileu

Circus Oz has once again agreed to support Friends of Aileu in raising funds for projects in Aileu District. This year, they are offering to take up a special collection from the audience at the performance on Friday 25 June. If you would like join the Friends at the show, a special discount is available for groups of 10 or more - $39 for A reserve or $36 for B reserve tickets, which is a saving of up to $15.

Bookings are via Ticketmaster at http://www.ticketmaster.com.au/

Circus Oz will be undertaking a special tour to East Timor later in the year.

Friends of Suai news and event

City of Port Phillip and Friends of Suai invite you to

Connections across the Timor Sea 1941-2010

Watercolours, letters, artefacts by Sgt George Milsom
Video installation by Jen Hughes
Photographs by Suai youth, Covalima East Timor

Exhibition opening Thursday 27 May 2010, 6 pm - 8 pm
Guest speaker, Abel Guterres Timor - Leste Ambassador to Australia

Exhibition dates Wed 26 May - 23 June, Monday - Friday 9 am - 5 pm
The Gallery, ST KILDA TOWN HALL 99a Carlisle Street, St Kilda VIC
TRAM 3, 16, 67 or Train to Balaclava Station

Images:
George Milsom ‘Village Scene’, watercolour 20 x 28 detail 1943
Jen Hughes, ‘Mosaic’ 2010
Livania de Jesus ‘Unfinished Cathedral, Suai and cow’ photograph 2009

Council to extend friendship with Suai for another 10 years
The City of Port Phillip will extend the hand of friendship to Suai, East Timor for another ten years, after council voted to renew its friendship agreement in principle last night.
The original agreement, signed by Xanana Gusmao, President of the National Council of Timorese Resistance (now Prime Minister) in 2000, pledged to help rebuild the country almost totally destroyed by Indonesian forces, after the overwhelming vote for independence in 1999.
“We started this friendship ten years ago and it has evolved and matured into a strong and effective relationship,” said Mayor Frank O’Connor.
“We are both coastal communities but very different and we have learned so much from each other. Local schools have made friendships, as have many other groups and individuals. The adage acting locally and thinking globally really does apply here,” he said.
The renewal of the agreement is due to be signed later this year, following the development of a strategic plan.

New Intrepid Tours to Timor-Leste

message from Jane Crouch at Intrepid Tours:

Boatardi all,

If you, friends or colleagues are interested to travel to Timor-Leste, just letting you know that Intrepid Travel's small group adventures are resuming this year. We had 9 fabulous trips that ran between 2003 and 2006 generating around 100 happy TL ambassadors. And I'd like your help…

We have 4 scheduled 15 day trips, starting ex Dili:
4th - 18th July - Booked out;
18th July- 1st August - Booked out;
Sunday 15th - 29th August - places filling;
Sunday 19th September - 3rd October - places filling.

The Intrepid Timor-Leste itinerary is a jam-packed 15 days of rich experiences across the country - taking in 9 districts and places visited include Dili, Dare memorial, Aileu, Maubisse, Hato Builiko, Mt Ramelau, Ainaro, Suai, Bobonaro, Balibo, Atauro Island, Manatuto, Baucau, Viqueque, Los Palos, Tutuala (Jaco Island) and Com. All along the way, our aim is to walk with the Timorese, make friends, learn of their lives and aspirations.
More information can be found at:
http://www.intrepidtravel.com/trips/PST



I am leading the first trip, accompanied by 4 experienced Timorese who are in training to lead subsequent trips. We visit many community based projects - including several that have had support from various friendship groups and NGOs. If you can recommend a project in a location mentioned above, that you think would be great for visiting friends to go and see/support (which we may not already include) please let me know - as we want these trips to continue to evolve and be packed with rich experiences that support Timorese communities.

Obrigada barak!

Jane Crouch
Responsible Travel Manager
Intrepid Travel
T: +61 (0) 3 9473 2656
M: +61 (0) 417 591 942
11 Spring St, Fitzroy, Victoria 3065
PO Box 2781, Fitzroy, Victoria 3065, Australia
Email: jcrouch@intrepidtravel.com
SKYPE: JaneCrouch
http://www.intrepidtravel.com/
http://www.theintrepidfoundation.org/

Mass recognising the restoration of Timor-Leste's Independence

RESTORATION OF TIMOR-LESTE’S INDEPENDENCE MASS

Saturday, 22nd May 2010, 6 p.m.
Venue: St Ignatius Catholic Church
326 Church St. Richmond 3121
Entry: Free
B Y O Food

Come and join us in the celebration of this historic day to give thanks and honour our Fallen Heroes and our Nation

Entertainment by ETSA and Friends

Sponsored by:
The Timorese Australian Community of Victoria,
The National Civic Council,
The Jesuit Services,
East Timor Students Association,
Crocks
Hallam Soccer Club

Peace of Wall - Street Art from East Timor

Peace of Wall is a new book about street art from East Timor by Chris Parkinson.

To launch the book three young East Timorese street artists are coming to Melbourne in May for a week-long program of events.

Saturday 8 May: Zito, Alfeo and Etson painting a collaborative wall at Hosier Lane, Melbourne, from 4pm.

Saturday 8 May: Exhibition of Chris Parkinson's photography at the Until Never Gallery, from 6pm.

Sunday 9 May: Workshops with teenagers at City of Melbourne's SIGNAL Youth Arts Space.

Tuesday 11 May: Launch of Peace of Wall. 7.30pm at Southpaw Bar, 189 Gertrude St Fitzroy. Launched by Bea Viegas. Live painting on the night.

Circle of Silence Event

The Australia-East Timor Association invites supporters of the Friends of Baucau to a Book Launch for:

'The Circle of Silence'
a personal testimony before, during and after Balibó
by Shirley Shackleton

Shirley's book will be launched by Bill Armstrong.

Councillor Alison Clarke of the City of Yarra will also speak.

WHEN: Tuesday 11th May
6pm for 6.30pm

WHERE: The Reading Room, Fitzroy Town Hall
201 Napier St Fitzroy

COST: Free Entry

Light refreshments will be served

AETA book stall, ETWA craft stall

Numbers strictly limited - RSVP essential by Monday 10th May

Phone 9416 2960 or E-mail: aetamel@aetamel.org

About the book:

"Last year's film 'Balibo' re-ignited public awareness of the six Australian journalists murdered in East Timor in 1975. Shirley Shackleton, widow of journalist Greg Shackleton, has now told her side of the story in an engaging, funny, gutsy and often heart-rending memoir. Hers is an extraordinary life: from public relations career-woman to motherhood, and then following the loss of her husband, nearly 35 years of activism." Nicola Robinson, 'Bookseller and Publisher' magazine.

This event is sponsored by the City of Yarra.

May METAC Dinner

Please note that the May METAC dinner will not be supported by Friends of Baucau as previously advised and that we will support a dinner later in the year.

The dinner is on the SECOND Friday of the month, Friday the 14th of May (METAC meetings are typically on the First Friday of the month).