December 2005 |
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This year's key celebration in Atabae Parish on the feastday of the
Assumption (15 August) was a mass at Aidabeleten village preceeded by a
procession featuring a statue of Mary
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Church celebrations are major events in East
Timor. As you could expect, Easter and Christmas are always well
celebrated but this Christmas will be special in Atabae Parish because
a second priest has just been appointed to work there. This will enable
more villages to have their own local masses.
The picture opposite was taken in the mountain top village of Aidabeleten after three vehicles, including a truckload of people, travelled up from Atabae with the statue which can be seen on the right of the picture. After the formal, traditional welcome at the edge of the village (shown in the photo) by a village elder and girls who then danced and led the procession of people up to the village chapel for mass. This was followed by a simple village feast. |
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November 2005 |
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| Recent news from Atabae is that there has just
been a rice harvest and they have enough rice but there is still a
severe shortage of protein - no poultry in sight and fewer goats and
pigs around than early in the year. Water is now the major crisis. They
have had no decent rain for almost two years and the area is bone dry.
There have been several failed attempts to establish a new bore or well near the Atabae school in recent years. A new well dug in mid-year seemed successful for a while but then dried up so is now being dug deeper in the hope of gaining a reliable water supply. In the meantime a 17 km journey to a well in Biacou is undertaken daily to obtain water. Water supply problems are widespread in the area as established systems were destroyed as the Indonesians withdrew. AusAID is now helping in a major project in collaboration with others to help solve the problems but it will obviously take time and substantial resources.
Three members of FPET, Jim Johnson and Joel and Andrew Hodge, made a private visit to Atabae during the month. This allowed an inspection and review of projects, and discussion with Fr Marsellus on plans for the future, as well as enjoyable interaction with lots of the locals. |
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October 2005 |
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| Education and health remain the two top issues of
concern for the people of Atabae and most if not all of East Timor.
However, progress is being made and our efforts are showing worthwhile
results.
We have almost closed the main gaps in primary school education in Atabae parish. The final stage of the Atabae primary school is scheduled for completion early next year and is expected to be our last involvement in school construction.
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After a number of delays, this clinic which we
funded with a donation from students of the Ashgrove Marist College has
now been completed and about to start operation on a part time basis.
Funding is now being provided to equip the Damlaran clinic and also for gas refrigerators in three other clinics. The refrigeration is essential to allow safe storage of vaccines for immunisation of infants. Infant mortality rates are falling but still unacceptably high in East Timor.
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September 2005 |
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FPET has been
funding the local people to build their own chapel at Nunudoi. It is
already in use but the concrete floor is yet to be poured and quite a
bit of finishing work is still needed. It is already proving to be a
very useful community building as well as being their chapel.
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The new radio
for inter-village communication has recently been installed in the back
of the Nunudoi chapel. This is another valuable contribution to
improving life in Nunudoi which is quite remote from major centres.
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August 2005 |
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Much of the
damage from the violence in 1999 has now disappeared in East Timor but
reminders are still visible, especially in the poorer village
communities. I have visited this house on both my visits to East Timor
and both times I have left with two impressions. The main impression is
the hospitality and sprituality of the residents and the other is a
sense of wondering how terrible it must have been for them on the day
these bullet holes were put in the ceiling of their house.
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The East
Timorese people are moving on optimistically to build a better life
with their independence and putting their past behind them as much as
possible but as a visitor you cannot help but notice sights like the
bullet holes marking the walls of this house which had its roof burnt
off during the voilence of 1999. The people of this village virtually
all moved to West Timor for about two years to survive the violence.
The locals are now planning to restore this house to accommodate a
teacher and his family so he can live nearer the school.
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July 2005
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FPET President
Jim Johnson on left with RSL State President Bill Mason who formally
presented the 2005 ANZAC Peace Prize award to Deacon Gary Stone on
behalf of FPET
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The Returned & Services League of Australia
(RSL) announced the awarding of the 2005 ANZAC Peace Prize to 'Friends
and Partners with East Timor' (FPET) in Canberra on Anzac Day. A number
of our members joined with RSL members at the RSL Brisbane headquarters
on 13 July for the formal presentation of this prestigious award for
"the provision of a range of partnership activities aimed at assisting
the rehabilitation and restoration of community spirit and values in
East Timor, through reciprocal visits, direct assistance, friendship
and infrastructure provision".
The Award Certificate states that the award has been given "in recognition of an outstanding Australian achievement which has promoted the concept of international understanding and which, in so doing, has made a contribution to world peace in accordance with the best traditions exemplified by ANZAC". |
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June 2005 |
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| The big news from the last month is the
installation of a network of village radios to provide basic
communication in the area. It is expected to assist especially in times
of serious illness and other emergencies. It is also expected to assist
in routine communication on health, education and other issues
throughout the area. More information on this project supported by FPET
but organised by Connect East Timor can be obtained from the Connect
East Timor website via the link at the end of the May news below.
Work has progessed further with the new Atabae primary school and plans are now in hand to complete the second and final stage of the new school complex. The Aidabeleten villagers are also poised ready to commence building their school as soon as the building materials are delivered. The purchase and delivery of these materials is now in progress and this new school should also be ready by the start of the next school year in September. |
Joana Ferreira
da Silva making the first radio call from Atabae on 19 May 2005. Over
80% of the East Timorese have yet to make a call by radio or telephone.
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May 2005 |
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There is so much
that can be done to help ensure a better future for the children of
East Timor - can you help or do you know of others that may be able to
volunteer to work in the Atabae subdistrict?
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In late April we got a call from Nick and Jane
Eager to say that they would have to give up on their intended plan to
stay in Atabae for two years as Jane is now expecting a baby. Since
then, Nick and Jane have had to return to Australia even sooner than
first anticipated so Jane could receive appropriate medical attention.
We are all very pleased for them that they are starting their own
family. We also share their disappointment that they cannot continue
but we are very grateful for what they had achieved already during
their three months at Atabae. See our May 2005 newsletter available on
the About FPET page for more of the latest news.
Connect East Timor volunteers are visiting Atabae this month to install two-way radios in seven villages as a pilot for a national rural radio communications network. This has the potential to save many lives and overcome the almost total lack of modern communication systems in the rural areas of East Timor. FPET has contributed towards the cost of this pilot project. More information is available on the Connect East Timor website. |
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April 2005 |
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| The first two months of Nick and Jane Eager's time
in Atabae have been taken up largely with settling in, learning the
local languages and generally getting familiar with the people and
their surroundings. It takes a while for anyone to adjust to the very
different conditions in East Timor.
This month has been a busy one for Nick and Jane as they continue to develop their language skills and start to take up their roles in the community. Jane has started working in the Atabae clinic and Nick has been busy building relationships with key people and preparing to get some more construction underway. Click on this link to share their April letter. It will help you understand the conditions they are experiencing at Atabae. |
Nick Eager checking out a new well being developed to supply water for the Atabae school, boarding houses and presbytery
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March 2005 |
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A
small part of the crowd gathering for the mass and celebration
including the Papal Nuncio from Jakarta, the Bishop of Dili Diocese, a
visiting American bishop and some of the many priests attending.
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Although Atabae has been operating much like an independent parish for some years it was only on 19 March that Atabae was officially inaugurated as a separate parish. Previously it was part of the Balibo Parish although it operated relatively independently. The day was a great event which was attended by over 1,000 people from throughout much of the Bobonaro district and beyond. Official visitors included the Papal Nuncio from Jakarta, the Bishop of Dili Diocese, a visiting American bishop and many priests. Here are some of the first photos of the day that we have received. Despite their difficulties the East Timorese have a very strong sense of community and put great effort into community and family celebrations.
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February 2005 |
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Through PALMS Australia we are now supporting a husband and wife team who have volunteered to live and work in the Atabae community for two years from February 2005. The Atabae community identified health as the top priority for assistance by volunteers when consulted for their priorities. They are working mainly on improving health services but also assist with youth and a range of FPET project issues. Most of all they provide us with a much improved link with the communities of Atabae Parish and others in East Timor. This month, the couple, Nick and Jane Eager, are busy settling into the Atabae community. Jane is a qualified nurse and Nick is also qualified in Health Science. Both will be working with local health clinic staff to improve health services and community health. Nick will also be working with local youth and helping with organisation of FPET projects.
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Here
is the couple, Nick and Jane Eager, visiting the local kindergarten
soon after arriving in Atabae. Education for children of all ages is
another major concern for the people living in this area.
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INDEX OF NEWS AND OTHER STORIES |
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This photo of
the new Atabae well was taken in August when the head work was nearing
completion. The well is now being deepened to improve the supply.
Fish are an
important part of the diet at Atabae, especially in dry times like now.
Unfortunately even fish supplies seem to be reduced during drought
times.
Salt is also
havested from the sea and is an important source of income for some
locals in the seaside villages. This salt is being sold at the local
Atabae weekly market but there seemed to be a lot more sellers than
buyers.
This photo shows
the first stage of the Atabae primary school which is in use and soon
to be matched by another similar building to conclude the construction
of this new school.
The now completed Damlaran clinic was not quite finished when this photo was taken in August.
The concelebrated mass which was the central part of the celebration.
The
Parish Priest, Fr Marsellus Baonule SVD was very busy beforehand and
during this major event. He is shown here talking with media
representatives.
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