Linking Boroondara, Australia with Same, East Timor

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April/May 2009 updates

Dear Friends of Same,

You can view the latest Friends of Same newsletter here.

Our next Friends of Same Community Meeting will be held on Thursday 6 August 2009, 7pm for 7.30pm start, at Hawthorn Community House, 32 Henry Street, Hawthorn. (NB postponed from July) Adjacent Central Gardens (Melway 45 E10).

Also upcoming is the film fundraiser viewing "Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince" (PG Rating) See the brochure for details of this film night fundraiser! Friday 17 July, Tickets $16.50. Bookings by 10 July please. Contact: Catherine Scott 0416 275591 garethivoryfoundation@gmail.com or Esther Anderson 98304260.

Please find here a printable document. It is a petition to the House of Reps Members asking that they consider supporting the nomination of the Democratic Republic of Timor Leste as a recipient of the companion of the Order of Australia Honorary.

This petition is being organised by the Mary McKillop East Timor Mission. The petition acknowledges the role the Timorese played in providing assistance to Australia in WWII - at least 40,000 Timorese died (over 10% of the population) ! Timor Leste, as a colony of neutral Portugal, had of course been neutral until about 700 Australian commandos landed in late 1941. 8000 Japanese then landed in Feb 1942. Read a brief outline of this history in the document.

It would be greatly appreciated if you would collect as many signatures as you can and forward them to the Mary McKillop address in the document.

Regards,
Kate Gillespie-Jones
Convenor
Friends of Same

Friends of Same administration and communications support

We are pleased to announce that Fiona Young will be supporting Friends of Same on a range of admin and communications activities over coming months. Fiona is working on Fridays at Hawthorn Community House in Henry Street so feel free to call in and say hello. We're sure you will see her impact over coming weeks and months with a revamped newsletter etc.

Fiona can be contacted at Hawthorn Community House on Fridays on telephone 98192629 or by email at friendsofsame@netspace.net.au

We are able to use Fiona's services thanks to support from Boroondara Council.

3 February 2009

Friends of Same Executive Committee 2009 and end-of-year thanks

At the AGM held on 2 October 2008, elections were held for the Friends of Same Executive Committee.

The Committee for 2009 will be:

Convenor: Kate Gillespie-Jones
Deputy Convenor: Esther Anderson
Secretary: Jan Hayes
Treasurer: John Lagzdins
Members:
· Martina Hayes
· Jennie Rawther
· Bruce Butler
· Chris Moss
· Don Glasson
· Patricia Woodcroft-Lee

Council representatives: yet to be advised.

The first community meeting for 2009 will be held on Thursday 5th March at Hawthorn Community House.

As the year ends, particular thanks go to the following members of the Friends of Same:

Gill Merzvinskis, as coffee coordinator, who has now stepped down from this position to concentrate her efforts on maternal and child health in East Timor. Gill took on the role as coffee coordinator last year as part of the transition to management of coffee sales through Coffex, working closely with Kevin Bain to facilitate the process and to coordinate sales of coffee and tais at the Hawthorn Craft Market, festivals and other events. This was a significant undertaking, involving many hours of work throughout the past year and more. We are all very grateful to Gill for her commitment and effort.
Gill has been assisted by a small band of dedicated volunteers, to whom we owe thanks- in particular, Heather Thake and Joan Robinson, and Lynn Williams (amongst other projects he has assisted with); also regulars Gemma Furtado, Tony Barta, Trish Woodcroft-Lee, Joan Fordyce (also for work on Timorese textiles) and Pat Down.
Judy O'Halloran, who has also resigned, after serving two years on the committee. Judy was the instigator and organiser of two Trivia Nights during the past year, which raised in excess of $3500 for the Friends of Same projects.
Kevin Bain, who continued to assist with the transition to Coffex, and to work with the network of retailers and community groups to enable the transfer to proceed.
Treasurer, John Lagzdins, who has also undertaken the role of public officer.
Claudine Chionh, who continues to maintain our website and email list, despite her heavy workload.
Barbara Browne and Dianne Kinnealy, for their ongoing assistance with the education program. Tony Barta and Ken Masters have also assisted as members of the education sub-committee.
All members of the executive and in particular, Trish Woodcroft-Lee, for her work on the Fuan Nabilan project (with assistance from Esther and Bruce) and coordination of sales of Timorese textiles; Bruce Butler, who has overseen the Rotutu school project as well as initiating other ventures; Chris Moss for his work on alternative energy projects.

City of Boroondara:

Cr Heinz Kreutz, whose active support during 2008 has been much appreciated
Cr Philip Healey
Rosanne Cregan
Helen Molnar
Jacqui Briggs
Staff who sell our coffee

Special thanks also to Deolinda Cunha, Jenni Kanaley, Steve Sengstock, Tim Cooper, Daryl Mills (Rotary, Dili), Fiona Elliott and Glenda Lasslett (AVI), Br Michael Lynch and Olga Elliott (Salesian Missions Office), Bill Dagg (Rotary DIK), Anne Callahan and Les Herbert (Hawthorn Community House), and in Timor Leste, Margie Beck (Baucau Teachers College), Padre Palomo (Baucau), Padre Manuel Ximenes (Don Bosco Fuiloro), Madre Jacinta (Venilale), Br Adriano (Fatumaca), Padre Anibal (Same), Padre Gelasio, and Geoff and Barbara Collins.

And of course thanks to our partners in Same and Manufahi- in particular Sr Filomeno Tilman, Sr Adao Mendes, Sr Amandio da Costa, Sr Carlito, and Sr Ramos.

Congratulations to Crs Heinz Kreutz and Philip Healey who have been re-elected to council, and to Brad Miles, who has been a member of Friends of Same, who was also elected to council at the recent local government elections.

Best wishes for Christmas and for a great year in 2009.

Kate Gillespie-Jones

Harold Down

Many will have seen the sad news about our great friend Harold Down, who passed away peacefully in June 2008. Our sincere condolences to Pat and all the family.

Harold was one of those people who genuinely made a difference to the lives of others, in Timor (through the typewriter project which he initiated and ran), in Papua New Guinea and with Aboriginal Australia, amongst other good causes. He was an inspiration to many of us in the Friends of Same, with his quiet words of wisdom and knowledge. He will be much missed.

–Tony Barta and Kate Gillespie-Jones

The April 2009 newsletter is available for download (PDF).

Events

Regular meetings

Regular meetings of the Friends of Same are usually held on the first Thursday of every second month.

Our next Friends of Same Community Meeting will be held on Thursday 7 May 2009, 7pm for 7.30pm start, at Hawthorn Community House, 32 Henry Street, Hawthorn. Adjacent Central Gardens (Melway 45 E10).

We will be viewing "Heru Ini Lafu: Weaving Life", a documentary film made by East Timor Women Australia (ETWA) in conjunction with Djemilla films. The film reveals the beauty of East Timorese culture and the creative processes of traditional Tais weaving. The meeting is open to all, and will be a free screening.

Friends of Same sell traditional weaving products to support our projects in East Timor and we will have some on display at the meeting.

More details on regular meetings and other events of interest.

Coffee retailers

To see the list of retail outlets go to our coffee retailers page. If you would like to distribute East Timor coffee in your workplace, school, church or organisation, please contact .

Incorporation of Friends of Same

A meeting was held Wednesday 29 August 2007 at 5.30pm at the Hawthorn Town Hall to consider whether to proceed with incorporation for the Friends of Same.

Updated on 21 June 2009.