A helping hand for a neighbour in need

Having recently returned from a self-initiated and self-funded two-month emergency relief operation, Michael says his first reaction when he heard of the disaster was to provide practical support, solidarity and hope to the people of Timor-Leste. 

“I deeply respect the debt of honour Australia has to the Timorese people who supported our soldiers in World War Two,” Michael says. 

“Tens of thousands of Timorese gave their food supplies and risked their lives to protect our soldiers. They were our wartime allies, and the best way we can honour their sacrifice is through our actions and friendship, especially in times of need.” 

A CRISIS WITHIN A CRISIS

Already in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis, and after experiencing torrential rain from Cyclone Seroja, flooding and landslides destroyed homes and buildings in Dili on Easter Sunday. Over 50 lives were lost, and more than 44,000 households were affected, with many losing everything and thousands forced into temporary shelters.

During his 20 years’ service, Michael was deployed overseas for eight years, mostly in East Timor. Together with his father Gary Stone, he co-founded the Veterans Care Association, an RSL Queensland partner program.

When the crisis hit, Michael reached out to a few veteran mates to find a way they could offer support to their fellow Timor friends.

“One said he would fund a flight to get me and the first supplies there,” Michael says. 

“We also set up a GoFundMe campaign. Over three days we raised $72,000, which was distributed to trusted organisations – including Timor’s lead community health non-government organisation and the Timorese Veterans’ Council – to help with their immediate needs after the disaster. 

“About a dozen of our team were on standby to go to Timor but Australia was in lockdown, and we had to get permission to leave and land in Timor. In the end, we were granted permission for two people to travel.”

Michael was joined by fellow Veterans Care Association member Mark Herewini, a former infantryman and now paramedic.

“Within a few days we gathered 700 kilos of medical supplies and prioritised them in consultation with doctors on the ground in Dili, who advised what needed to go where most urgently. We were the first Australian relief plane to land in Dili after the crisis and the first physical humanitarian presence on the ground,” Michael says.

They transported over 70 boxes of critical medical and humanitarian supplies on the flight, including basic things like Ventolin, asthma puffers, electrolytes, Panadol, and insulin.  

Veterans Care Association President Gary Stone says Michael and Mark embody the humanitarian spirit of the program.

“Michael and Mark weren’t sitting in an office directing things from a computer. They’ve been on the ground in dire conditions humping sacks of rice, conducting medical outreach clinics, traversing landslides, conducting emergency health training and digging mud out of people’s houses. They have been working tirelessly to encourage people and give them hope. 

“So, it is certainly above and beyond the call of duty, as it were, but that’s part of the Australian spirit, isn’t it? To help our neighbours in times of need.”

A LONG-TERM COMMITMENT TO THE TIMOR COMMUNITY 

Michael and Gary have had a deep and long-standing relationship with East Timor and the Timorese. 

“More Australian soldiers have served in Timor than in Afghanistan or Iraq, or any other operation since the Vietnam War. Indeed over 35,000 Australians soldiers, sailors and airmen have served in East Timor over the last 20 years.”

“Veterans Care Association have been working in Timor since 2016 and we’ve had multiple aims. We’ve been running a rehabilitation program for wounded, ill and injured Australian veterans called Timor Awakening. We have a holistic health focus rather than treatment focus, using peer support mentoring,” Gary says. 

“Since we started, we have done 12 programs in Timor. We fly into Dili, the capital, we’re met by a group of Timorese war veterans, and we go on a joint program with them for about 13 days.

“Timorese veterans don’t have support arrangements like what we’ve got here. So, we’ve embraced their wounded, ill veterans, as we’ve taken our guys over there, and developed a strong relationship with them.”

As part of their efforts on the ground, the Association has founded an educational scholarship, putting around 50 Timorese veterans through vocational training. 

“In 2018, the Timorese veterans asked us to build a school to teach their next generations English, prepare them for development and liberate them from poverty. Over the last 24 months, Michael put together a program, raised close to $200,000, and now a very large boarding school is built and operating on the remote south coast of Timor, near the town of Betano where the wreckage of the HMAS Voyager remains.” 

A MISSION OF HOPE 

Michael says it was an intense experience full of connection, community, and compassion, but their work in Timor is far from over. 

“The Timorese people are amazingly resilient human beings; however, the country’s economy has been crippled by COVID restrictions, malnutrition is rising, and medical supplies and medicines are depleted. We will continue in our work to support and provide aid to our neighbours. Timor-Leste is a country that is a beacon of hope and together we can get through this,” Michael says.

“Our primary mission was to provide essential aid and emotional support to the Timorese. We wanted to let them know that they were not forgotten,” Gary adds. 

“It’s been a mission of hope, solidarity and togetherness. In fact, Mark, Michael, and all our team wear shirts with the word ‘Hamutuk’ on the back. It is a Timorese word for togetherness. We are in this together.

“The Timorese are overjoyed that they’ve been given this help. There are thousands of people still homeless and there’s very limited international aid supporting their recovery. We’re continuing to raise money to help them through this time.

“The people in Dili that lost their homes and properties, they’ve got nothing. There’s no money in the bank. There’s no social security system. They’re relying on extended family to share rice with them.”

During Michael’s first weeks on the ground, he describes seeing people boiling grass and leaves just to have something to eat. 

“There’s still so much more that needs to be done. The situation is getting worse rather than better as the people on the ground deal with multiple large-scale crises, including soaring COVID rates," he says. 

“We appeal to fellow Australians to advocate to our state and federal governments to provide support to Timor-Leste as best as possible. They’re in desperate need of a huge range of medical equipment – training and basic medicines as a starting point. Their economy has completely collapsed, with the majority of Timorese currently unemployed.”

AWAKENING VETERANS

While COVID has pressed pause on the team taking veterans to Timor for now, Gary said Australian veterans can still enrol in their Timor Awakening programs, which are being run from Rainbow Bay on the Gold Coast in the interim.

“Some veterans get stuck in a victim mentality and the awakening part of our program enables them to realise they can get healthier and find a positive life purpose after leaving service,” Gary says.

“We find many of our veterans are those that have been medically discharged, and in a situation where they’re not able to find work after leaving the military. But we can help them find health, identity and purpose again.

“We want them to get inspired and find ways to be active and engaged, instead of sitting on the couch. We’re not ex-servicemen, we’re just serving in a different way now. We can continue to be of service to our community but with a different focus, purpose and identity.

“It’s a case of finding the place where you can actually do that. The RSL offers enormous potential to do it and we wouldn’t have been able to provide our Timor Awakening programs without the support of RSL Queensland.” 

THERE’S STILL TIME TO SUPPORT

Veterans Care is still raising much needed funds to support recovery efforts in Timor. If you would like to donate, please visit veteranscare.com.au. If you are interested in the Timor Awakening program or Veterans Education Scheme in Timor-Leste, you can find out more at timorawakening.com.