Speaker 7/10/2009 - East Timor Work Party

East Timor Work Party – Speakers Steve Ellis, Darren Trigg, Glenn Sharp, Ian Moyle spoke to club members on 7th October 2009.

The project to renovate and extend a community hall was initiated by Sister MaryAnn a Sister of Mercy nun who met Ballarat Rotarians while she was visiting Ballarat in 2008. The project involved providing a usable, weather proof space at the girls’ school and boarding house she manages in Aileu, East Timor.

The group of four Rotarians, Steve, Darren, Glenn and Ian heard of Sister MaryAnn’s need so put the idea into practice in June 2009. Financial help came from the Rotary clubs of Ballarat. The Rotary Club of Wendouree Breakfast donated $1,000 of the $7,000 required to complete the project. .

200,000 East Timorese perished under Indonesian occupation. The United Nations granted East Timor self-determination in 1999 forcing Indonesia to relinquish control. Indonesian troops left the country leaving it devastated – short of food, skilled labour and in poverty; buildings and infrastructure were also largely destroyed as the occupiers left. This Rotary project is part of the effort to rebuild the nation of East Timor.

The work party hired four local men to work on the project, two skilled men were paid $US7.00 per day and two labourers $US3.00 per day. The Rotarians formed a close relationship with the men during the week long project, with both groups learning from each other.

The area around Aileu has no electricity during the day so it was necessary to purchase a generator so work could continue smoothly. This along with other tools was left in a container for use by future work parties.