Twenty years of working with communities in Timor-Leste was celebrated by three North East friendship groups including Mansfield’s Friends of Venilale (FoV) at a joint event held in Wangaratta on 20 September.

The Mansfield group with Friends of Lacluta (Wangaratta), and Friends of Atauro (Indigo Shire) all share the distinction of being in the only electorate in Australia that has more than one friendship group.

The member for Indi Dr Helen Haines unable to attend due to a family commitment, provided a video message congratulating the three groups on their efforts.

“Thank you for what no budget line can buy,” said Dr Haines.

The three organisations are part of the broader network of Australia-Timor-Leste Friendship groups, which engage in community partnerships focused on mutual respect, sustainability, and shared values.

Group members, supporters and special guests including several from the Melbourne-based Timorese community gathered for the occasion at the Uniting Church Hall in Wangaratta.

FoV’s Dr Will Twycross was MC for the evening and recalled his first visit to East Timor as a medical student in 1974 and what an “amazing experience” it was.

Several years later as a serving Mansfield Shire councillor, Dr Twycross, was part of a deputation to Timor-Leste and the formalisation of the partnership with Venilale through the friendship group.

He spoke of “local government looking beyond what it usually does” and the involvement of several mayors and councillors.

The Rural City of Wangaratta was represented by the Mayor Irene Grant, Cr Dave Fuller and Cr Allison Winters.

The mayor spoke about the early days when the Timor-Leste Ambassador to Australia, Abel Guterres spoke to the council.

“We thought how could we provide support to these communities in Timor-Leste,” Cr Grant said.

“Now much has been done,” she said referring to the work of Friends of Lacluta’s Liz Walpole who had been instrumental in doing good things in Timor.

“It is about growing better families…communities struggle to have the resources we take for granted,” said Cr Grant.

Andrew Maher well know by many involved in the friendship groups and a guest at various events including Mansfield, was guest speaker for the celebration.

Mr Mahar has been the Honorary Consul for Timor-Leste in Victoria since 2018.

He has a passion for working with Timor-Leste on several social and economic projects including the WithOneSeed initiative which encourages tree planting to ensure long-term environmental benefits.

The president of Timor-Leste Jose Ramos-Horta had spoken to Mr Mahar that morning and asked for his gratitude for the work of the groups over many years to be passed on.

“It is a humbling experience to talk to people who have been involved for a long time as volunteers,” said Mr Mahar.

As a driving force behind the community social enterprise WithOneSeed, he is passionate about bringing back the forest and “putting money in someone’s pocket”.

A group of subsistence farmers in the mountains of Timor-Leste can earn an income by planting trees, leading the way to a future of self-determination for their families and local communities explained Mr Mahar.

The community forestry program began in Baguia, Timor-Leste, in 2009 and is the only Gold Standard certified community carbon offset program in the region.

More than 76 farmers in the Venilale district have planted 27,000 trees as part of the project.

“Income generation allows people to be in charge of their destiny,” he said.

The evening heard from group members in Timor-Leste including Venilale’s Boss (Valeriano) Dasilva who is currently studying architecture at RMIT in Melbourne and was able to attend in person.

Mr Dasilva said, “Friendship groups like those in Indi have shown us what is possible with respect, trust and love.”

He provided an overview of the projects that had benefited his home district through the work of the Friends of Venilale covering educational scholarships, health, and tourism.

“I was a teenager when FoV started…but the friendship that have developed cannot be measured just in years.

"It’s in working together in every aspect of life in listening and learning.

“Your friendship has changed lives including mine,” said Mr Dasilva.

Adding to the tone of the evening was music by Timorese group the Mystic Trio and various photographic displays by each group.

The silent auction - thanks to the generosity of donors - provided a fundraising opportunity for the groups’ work in Timor-Leste.

Celebration over, the work of the three groups continues with the popular Mansfield Ridgeline Walk on Sunday October 19 and the Friends of Lacluta open gardens event in Wangaratta on the same date .