Trivia Quiz fundraiser for Aileu University Scholarship Program

When: 7-10 pm, Friday 14 June         

Where: The iconic Brunswick Town Hall, 233 Sydney Road, Brunswick

Tickets:

• $65 General public

• $35 Concession

Book here on Humanitix

Comedian Oliver Clark will be the MC.

Light finger food provided - catering TBC

Tea, coffee, soft drinks & water provided

BYO Alcoholic drinks and additional food as you please

METAC Welcome Dinner

When: 7 - 10 pm, Friday 3 May

Where: The Factory, 19 Belgium Ave, Richmond

An event by the Melbourne East Timorese Activity Centre (METAC)

All Friends of Timor-Leste are invited to come along to the METAC Welcome Dinner for May and enjoy a meal of delicious East Timorese home cooking.

Entry by donation, BYO drinks

The May Dinner is sponsored by the Australia - East Timor Association (AETA) and the East Timorese Students Association (ETSA) Victoria, who will be welcoming new scholarship students recently arrived from Timor-Leste.

Friends of Aileu will be at the Glenroy Festival

When: 11 am - 3 pm, Sunday 5 May 

Where: Bridget Shortell Reserve, 50 Wheatsheaf Rd, Glenroy

A community event of Merri-bek City Council.

Details of this free community festival can be viewed on the Merri-bek City Council website.  

Chico dos Santos will again present children's stories and music from Timor-Leste at the Friends of Aileu stall.

We will have Wild Timor Coffee (packed as whole beans or freshly ground) for sale, along with a selection of Timor-Leste tais craft items from Kor Timor.

Voices of Liberation: Decolonisation, Resistance and Contemporary Activism in Timor-Leste

When: 3 - 6 pm, Saturday 11 May 

Where: Black Spark Arts and Cultural Centre 235A St Georges Rd, Northcote

A Black Spark Cultural Centre event in collaboration with the Friends of Aileu

Free entry / All welcome

Words from Carla Chung and music and stories by Chico and Xavi Dos Santos

AETA Independence Day Dinner

When: 6:30 - 9:45 pm, Friday 17 May 

Where: Wiliam Angliss Restaurant, 550 Little Lonsdale Street, West Melbourne

An event by the Australia-East Timor Association (AETA) to celebrate the restoration of Independence of Timor-Leste on 20 May 2002

Tickets: 

• $65 General public,
• $40 Timorese Seasonal Workers
• $20 Timorese Students

Book here on Trybooking

Guest speakers:

Dr Lisa Palmer, Professor in Environmental Studies at Melbourne University, with a special focus on Timor-Leste

Josh Trindade, a Timorese scholar who addresses fundamental issues relating to culture, beliefs and traditional systems, and their relationship to nationalism, social solidarity and rule of law

Music by special guest performers from Timor-Leste: Dulce and Izu

East Timorese Seasonal Workers Independence Day Party

When: 6:00 - 11:30 pm, Sat. 18 May 

Where: Coburg Town Hall, 90 Bell St, Coburg

An alcohol-free event of PALM scheme seasonal workers from Timor-Leste

Details from Carla Chung.

Timor-Leste Independence Day Community Party

When: 4 pm - 12:30 am, Sat. 25 May 
 

Where: St. Brigid's Hall, 378 Nicholson St, Fitzroy

An event by Greenvale United Soccer Club

Tickets: Pre-sale $25 At the door $30

Pre-book here on jotform

Band direct from Timor-Leste: Deometrio, Dario, Carlos and Felix

Also performing East Timorese cultural dancing: The famous Timor-Leste cultural group, Timor Furak

Aileu Municipal Authority

On 26 January the Minister for State Administration, Mr Thomas Cabral, confirmed new appointees (photo at left) to President of the Municipal Authority and other senior positions in the Aileu Municipal Authority.

The Friends of Aileu and the Merri-bek and Hume City Councils send best wishes to the newly appointed President of the Municipal Authority, Mr Joao Bosco dos Santos (photo at left), and his team.

We also thank outgoing Municipal Administrator, Mr Abel da Conceicao, and team.

The new appointments include 3 Municipal Secretaries (photo at left, 3 persons closest to right, from the right):  Mr Jose Vicente Vilanova (Administration and Finance), Mrs Victoria Mesquita do Rego (Planning, Investment and Integrated Development) and Mr Rogerio da Conceicao (Social and Organisations).

It is pleasing to see 2 former recipients of Aileu University Scholarships, Jose Vicente Vilanova and Laurenco Alves Falcao, Director SEFOPE Aileu, among the new appointees.

On 23 April, Acting Municipal President, Mrs Victoria, along with Secretaries Mr Rogerio and Mr Jose Vicente, commissioned the Municipal Consultative Committee.

Aileu Friendship Commission

On Friday 19 April, the Aileu Friendship Commission held its 1st meeting for 2024, which was chaired by the Acting Municipal President, Mrs Victoria Mesquita do Rego.

The Commission received reports on 2023 activities supported by Friends of Aileu and discussed proposals and priorities for 2024.

The Friendship Commission also noted the 7 recipients of Baucau Teachers College Scholarships for 2024 and confirmed the 17 recipients of Aileu University Scholarships for 2024.

Aileu University Scholarship Program

Of the 21 students whose tuition fees were covered by the Aileu University Scholarship Program during 2023, 9 graduated with 4-year Bachelor (Licentiate) degrees in Engineering, Petroleum Studies, Tourism and Information Technology.  A further 5 students graduated with 3-year Diplomas in Tourism, Information Technology and Multi-media.

The 2024 Scholarship Program is supporting 17 students.

Of these 17, 1 is undertaking a Master of Management (Jose Valente) and 15 are undertaking Bachelor studies in Engineering, Petroleum, Information Technology, Accounting and Multi-media.

In addition, Olga Falcao recent a Medical Graduate (photo at left with Jose Valente), is being supported to undertake a short course in English to assist in a future application for overseas post-graduate study in Paediatrics.

Baucau Teachers' College Scholarships

Of the 7 students whose tuition fees at Baucau Teachers College were covered during 2023, 3 graduated with a 4-year Bachelor of Education (Licentiate Degree) and 2 with a 3-year Bachelor of Teaching.

One of these graduates, Alarico Matus, already has a teaching position in Hera, Dili Municipality, while the other 2 are awaiting advice on their applications.

A further 2 have graduated with a 3-year Bachelor of Teaching and are continuing their 4th year studies in 2024.

In addition, 5 more students are being supported in 2024, 3 in their 3rd year and 2 in their 1st year.

Pictured at left are from top, graduates Zeferino Simoes Mendonca, with Maria Ratu da Fatima with family members and Alarico Matos with other graduates.

Friends of Aileu Community Committee meetings

The Friends of Aileu Community Committee has met twice already this year, on 15 February and 11 April.

The next meeting is scheduled for 6pm Thursday 20 June, at Merri-bek Civic Centre.

To find out more you may contact the Project Officer. 

Australia Timor-Leste Friendship Network forum

Members of the Australia Timor-Leste Friendship Network (AusTimorFN) met in Brunswick on Saturday 16 March.

Guest speakers were Kirsty Sword Gusmao on educational needs and developments in Timor-Leste, and Jose Pires on maintenance of Timorese culture by himself and other amongst former refugees from 1975 and subsequently.

The meeting voiced strong interest in participating in a Friendship Conference in Dili during 2025.  The proposal for a conference has the support of Mr Tomas Cabral, Timor- Leste Minister for State Administration.

Timor-Leste PALM scheme seasonal workers friendship party

Melbourne-based activist Carla Chung and Timor-Leste seasonal workers from across Victoria and interstate, organised an Easter season friendship party held at Brunswick Town Hall on Saturday 6 April.

Over 200 attendees danced the night away to music by performers from Timor-Leste and from amongst the workers themselves.

Friendship through sport

Thanks to Brunswick Zebras Football Club, who donated complete sets of new superseded uniforms (children to adult sizes) to the Aileu Municipal Youth Centre, along with soccer balls.

The uniforms and balls are being distributed to local teams in need of a new strip.

Pictured is Joe Valente handing over a set to the Chefe Suco Betulau, Lequidoe Administrative Post, and a junior team all fitted out and ready to go on the Aileu sports ground..

Merri-bek City Council Friends of Aileu is registered as a fundraiser with Consumer Affairs Victoria.

On-line donations

You may now donate on-line to Friends of Aileu via the Give Now platform managed by the not-for-profit organisation  ourcommunity.com.au

Did you know we sell Wild Timor Coffee? 

When you purchase Wild Timor coffee from Friends of Aileu, 100% of the profits go towards supporting our community development projects in Aileu.

Caffeinate for a good cause with delicious, ethical, iconic single-origin Wild Timor coffee.

From crop to cup, these coffee beans are grown organically under ancient shade trees in Belumhato, Aileu, ethically purchased and freshly roasted in Melbourne.

You can purchase whole beans or freshly ground coffee from the Customer Service Counter at the Coburg Civic Centre or from Chris or Aoife in Merri-bek City Council's Community Wellbeing Team.

You may contact us by email to order your coffee in advance.

Friendship: How you can be involved

In the video to the left, Anne Jungwirth and Chico Dos Santos, volunteer members of The Friends of Aileu Community Committee, share some thoughts on what our friendship relationship with Aileu means to them.

To find out more about the friendship relationship, and how you can be involved, you may contact the Project Officer.