President's report for 2007-2008

The President's report for 2007-2008 in now available, to download the PDF click here.

TIMORESE TEACHERS VISITING MELBOURNE

Story continued...

In the first week we held the GOYA/VISTA fundraiser at William Angliss in the beautifully refurbished Angliss Room. The food was beautifully prepared by teacher Lisa Morrison and the third year apprentices while the table service was under the care of Rodney Durnic and my VET hospitality students. Sue Henley persuaded Belinda Hawkins the producer of Australian Story to be the graceful and capable MC for the evening and I thank Belinda for her most generous contribution. Steve and his band were fabulous and had us all jumping! I spoke about GOYA and our activities and Luke McNamara spoke about the development issues Timor is currently facing and his new position and five year appointment. The Auction was a great success as was the Lucky Ticket and the Timorese guests were delighted to be a part of the festivities, if a little overwhelmed and very grateful for the hard work that has contributed to making this tour happen. It was great to celebrate the vision of Sister Aurora and be a part in assisting her in developing a nation of clever children who will play such a vital role in the future of Timor Leste.

At the end of two weeks we brought the Meadow Heights group to the Provincial House Accommodation that has been kindly lent to us by the Jesuit Community, in Hawthorn where they were to begin their four weeks in the City of Boroondara made possible by the efforts of Kate Gillespie-Jones. Marga and Anne assisted them to settle into their new home. Last week saw Francisca and Noemia return to the group who had prepared a lovely meal for us and we had a meeting with all the sponsors and teachers to see how they were progressing. Trish and Karina acted as facilitators so we could all understand what was being communicated and I thank them for their generosity and time. It was a chance to express concerns and issues and consolidate what they could achieve in the last few weeks. We all departed very tired but also convinced that the effort of this tour has been a most worthwhile investment in these individuals who will return to Timor to guide and assist other teachers and introduce new ways of stimulating and educating the children.

They have now just completed their fourth week of school visits and by all reports they have been warmly received into the various communities and included in the daily operation of each of the facilities. Every week there has been a rotation of the schools and locations so that members of the committee, volunteers from the Friends of Same and Emera and the Timorese community in Melbourne have kindly been taking the teachers, introducing them and orientating them to their new destinations. Anne Fisher who has accompanied them from Timor and who assists them in their daily lives has then introduced them to the complexities of the public transport system to encourage their independence and broaden their experience of daily life in Melbourne.

The weekends have seen them experiencing life in and around Melbourne as we visited Federation Square (they love the Eureka Building!) the Indigenous expo at the National Gallery, vineyards, restaurants, China town, galleries, rugby matches, cappuccino, shopping, Victoria markets, Collingwood Children's farm and peacocks! Tomorrow after Lee and Hamish take them for rugby we are having an Aussie Pub Lunch at the Glenferrie Hotel at 1pm if anyone would like to join us. All are welcome. Trish is then taking them for 'High Tea'.

Last night we went to METAC which is the meeting place for the Melbourne Timorese Community and the students spoke to the group about their experiences. They talked at length about how lucky the teachers were here that they had so many supplies at hand and how they have to make many of theirs from scratch. They are impressed with the dedication of the staff, how hard they work and how they have the opportunity to study their teaching to university level. The teachers lot in Timor is not easy with no Government support and often no pay. They also thanked GOYA and Friendship groups for providing them with this opportunity and the the need for ongoing practical support. A Timorese woman sitting close to me said she thought they were amazing, she was greatly impressed by their ability to speak so well to the group and she felt they are great asset to the Children of Timor. I felt very proud of them and humbled by their dedication and willingness to continue their work as teachers in the face of so many difficulties.

The only sadness through this has been the death on Wednesday of Marga's brother who was also Isabel's father, in Same. Isabel has flown to Timor with Marga for the funeral. We send them our sincere condolences.

This week is the last of the schooling program and in the final week our visitors will have some spare time and some extra activities before leaving on an 8,30pm flight on Saturday the 22nd September. Our final meeting and farewell dinner will be at the Provincial House on Thursday 20th September at 7pm and you are most welcome to come and share the friendship and hospitality. Please call me if you are planning to attend.

A very big thank you to Jill Forsyth who has been the engine behind this entire program and who has stepped in to assist and support throughout. Also to the ever cheerful Kate Gillespie-Jones and Jan Tresize whose generosity, kindness and friendship has made this program possible.

Obrigada Barak - Felicity

GOYA Youth

Jessica Murphy has written a heart felt song about the children of Timor Leste.
Here is Jessica's song.

These Kids Are People Too.

They walk for miles and miles for just a cup of water,
They don’t get much food no, not much food at all
Have no education
Never celebrate an occasion
But these kids are people too.

East Timor right now,
Is dangerous and scary
Bombs going BOOM!
And guns going BANG!
These kids can’t sleep; terrified they’ll get shot
These kids are people too think of what we’re putting them through.

Imagine sitting there with all your little friends
Hearing in the distance bang, bang, bang, boom,
Walking to your water, wanting to run for your life,
These kids are people too and I’m wondering what you’d feel like if it were you.

They’re in need of help from poverty,
Do them a favour and sponsor a child in need
Not only will they use the money for their health but,
They need love and care to know that someone’s there
These kids are people too.

These kids are people too.
These kids are people too.

Jessica Murphy.

April 2007 Newsletter

The April 2007 News letter is now available to download, click here to read it.

A Splash of the Compassion 2007

The inaugural "A Splash of Compassion" was a fabulous success! The beautiful Melbourne Aquarium was a wonderful setting for this stellar event. The sunset view of the Yarra River and South Bank and the stupendous central fish tank featured in the middle of the venue. Glorious bouquets of orange flowers, supplied by Robert Walker added to the stylish look and feel of the evening - as did 450 of the most beautifully dressed people in Melbourne!
Read More.

The 2006 Seed food Life Gala Dinner

Dear Friends and Members, the 2006 Seed food Life Gala dinner and fund raiser took place on the 1st of September and I proud to say was a giant success. The night raised $27000.00 for Timor Leste. Please read the wonderful summary by Ian Parmenter and view the images from the memorable evening.

President's report for 2006

The President's report for 2006 in now available, to download the PDF click here.

Jennifer Mondia's PNG HIV/AIDS Conference Summary

Jennifer Mondia has submitted a Summary Report form the PNG HIV/AIDS conference. To download the PDF of the Summary click HERE.

Dear Members and Friends of Timor Leste

A very big thank you to everyone who has so generously sent money in support of our people in crisis. The response and kind wishes expressed from the membership has been touching and reassuring. The funds will be taken to our communities as soon as possible. The situation as you will be aware is still unstable in Timor Leste and the population in general is very frightened with many sheltering in refugee camps. ManaLu, Rosaria da Cruz and Sister Aurora Pires are all sheltering, attempting to feed and care for many of the refugees and are in urgent need of assistance. The Vice President of the GOYA Foundation, Jill Forsyth, has also been working closely with Rotary to organise a shipment of provisions and basic necessities that are in short supply. MLC has also held a fundraiser and has contributed a further $900-00 to our efforts and we thank them sincerely for their ongoing support and dedication.

As we mentioned in the newsletter, we will be holding a fundraising Dinner and Auction at the Hawthorn Town Hall on the 1st of September with Stephanie Alexander as a guest speaker. A flyer will follow shortly with further details and I urge you to come along and support the GOYA Foundation and the brave people we are assisting. If you require any further information, please contact me at any time.

Once again, many, many thanks to all, this has been a harrowing and worrying time and we can only hope and pray that the people of Timor Leste will find peace and reconciliation in the near future.

Sincerely, Felicity Fraser

The Current Situation in Timor Leste

We are all distressed to see the deterioration of the situation in Timor Leste. The problems the Timorese face are on so many levels and this current violence has been sparked by many complex and unresolved issues that are both political and civil in nature.
At present we have heard that our communities are safe but will be put under enormous strain as they offer support in the form of food and shelter to those who are fleeing from the violence. We have cancelled the Youth tour that was to leave in early July as the situation is too precarious.
However, some members of the GOYA Foundation will be visiting in the near future and we will take over money for supplies that will be urgently needed. These unexpected and tragic events reinforce the precarious and fragile nature of life in Timor Leste and other developing countries and how important it is for us to respond with practical and spiritual support.

If you are able to assist in making a contribution to our purchase of food supplies, please forward to GOYA Foundation,
PO Box 2368
Hawthorn 3122.
Felicity Fraser; Founder.

Jennifer Mondia Visit

Jennifer Mondia from the OSWHR PNG visiting with some senior and youth members of the GOYA Foundation in January this year.

GOYA Foundation's Newsletter Autumn 2006

The GOYA Foundation's Newsletter for Autumn 2006 is now ready! If you haven't already read it then you can down load the PDF right here.

International Women's day at MLC

On March 8, the MLC community held an International Women’s Day breakfast to celebrate the impact and importance of women.

The theme for the breakfast was “Women: Inspired, Determined, Empowered.”

I had the privilege and pleasure of speaking about the GOYA Foundation as well as about my own experiences at this breakfast. I found that the theme ‘Inspired, Determined, Empowered’ fit well with the work of the GOYA Foundation. Indeed, these ideas fit not only the women that GOYA supports in East Timor and Papua New Guinea but also the women (and men) that support the GOYA Foundation in Australia.

I found this to be the case not only amongst the Senior Committee of the GOYA Foundation but also about the Youth Committee of the GOYA Foundation who are organizing the “A Splash of Compassion” cocktail party on February 23, 2007. There are indeed many parallels between the inspiration, empowerment and determination of the women in ET and PNG and the young women in Melbourne who are working tirelessly towards this very special charity event.

The emphasis of my speech was that it is important for women in Melbourne to pay more than lip service to the themes of International Women’s Day and that supporting charities like the GOYA Foundation is an example of how to do this. In addition, through the work of GOYA we ensure that women are empowered both in countries like East Timor but also here in Australia.

The incredible response from the audience about the work of the GOYA Foundation does reiterate the resonance the GOYA Foundation’s work has amongst the community.

Money raised from the breakfast was donated to the GOYA Foundation and many new members joined.

A Splash of Compassion.

The GOYA Foundation Youth Committee presents its inaugural “A Splash of Compassion” Cocktails Event on February 23, 2007. This stellar charity event has been solely organised by 12 young women who have decided to support the GOYA Foundation through an event targeted at the 18s-25s. However, all are welcome to attend this event to enjoy an evening of music, drinks, finger food, silent auction and other surprises. Whilst we can tell you that the venue will be the Melbourne Aquarium we will be keeping all other details under wraps for a little while longer... Visit this page in July for further details and booking information.

Humanitarian Award.

Felicity Fraser receives a Humanitarian award for work done with the GOYA Foundation.