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Tuesday, 22 May 2007 |
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Home>Community Information>Friends of Venilale
 Friendship Relationships
A Bit of Background About East Timor (Timor-Leste)
Where is Venilale and What's It Like?
How Do I Join or Donate to the Friends Group?
| Linking Mansfield in Victoria with Venilale in East Timor | | In 2004 interested people in the Mansfield district combined with the Mansfield Shire Council to set up Friends of Venilale (pronounced vennee-LAH-lay). This teams Mansfield with the town of Venilale in Timor-Leste (East Timor) in a Friendship Relationship for their mutual benefit.
Local leaders and people in both towns have expressed strong support for the link. The two towns will explore ways of co-operating, with skills transfer and cultural exchange high on the list.
Schools, hospitals and local government will work together to develop exchange programs, and craft sales and tourism also offer opportunities.
See below to find out how you can join the Friends group or if you would like to make a donation to help improve the standard of life for East Timorese people in the District of Venilale.
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| Friendship Relationships | | A strong link has existed between Australians and East Timorese since the days of World War II, when Timorese villagers spontaneously helped the young Australian diggers as they battled against the Japanese army.
Some 40,000 East Timorese villagers were killed by the Japanese in reprisal.
In 2000 the Australia Local Government Association decided to encourage “Friendship Relationships” between districts of Timor-Leste and Cities, Shires and Councils across Australia.
Friendship Relationships aim to develop friendship, support and cross-cultural understanding at a grass-roots level between Australians and the people of Timor-Leste. A key principle underlying the Friendship Relationship is that it should function both ways.
The Friendship Relationship promotes contacts between individuals and community organisations such as schools and hospitals by means of visits and the exchange of technical and cultural knowledge.
At a broader level, these interactions and friendships will result in a good neighbourhood, peaceful coexistence, and future trade between Timor-Leste and Australia.
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| A Bit of Background About East Timor (Timor-Leste) | | The world’s newest country was born on 20 May 2002. Timor-Leste has emerged from foreign domination, war and bloody violence.
It is a small country facing big challenges.
• It’s the poorest nation in Asia, with a population of 800,000.
• Life expectancy is about 50.
• Half the population lacks any formal education.
• More than 60 per cent of the population is under the age of 21.
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| Where is Venilale and What's It Like? | | The village of Venilale is in the high country in the south-east of Timor-Leste. It is about 30 kilometres south of the coastal city of Baucau, which is the second-biggest city in Timor-Leste.
The population of the area around Venilale is about 14,000. Terraced rice paddies climb the hillsides around the village. The roads are extremely rugged and subject to flooding and landslips.
Phone and postal communications are poor or non-existent. Electricity, where it exists, is supplied by generators.
The good news is that the people have endured much, but remain positive about their future.
In the past, Venilale was favoured by the Portuguese for its cool summer temperatures and natural hot springs. During World War II the occupying Japanese forces created a vast system of caves and tunnels in this area for their encampments and arsenals.
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| How Do I Join or Donate to the Friends Group? | | The Friends of Venilale is always looking for new members/subscribers, volunteer helpers, in-kind
support and cash donations. Join us in helping to rebuild Timor-Leste’s democracy and communities.
Join Now!
Send your name, (email) address and $20 to:
Friends of Venilale
Mansfield Shire Council
33 Highett Street
Mansfield Vic 3722
Postal:
Private Bag 1000
Mansfield Vic 3722
Phone: 5775 8555
Fax: 5775 2677
Web: www.mansfield.vic.gov.au
Email: fov@mansfield.vic.gov.au
As a Friend of Venilale you will:
• receive regular newsletters
• have opportunities to participate in FoV events/projects
• be a part of the Australian/East Timor Friendship network
Donations over $2.00 to the Friends of Venilale are tax deductible through a partnership with Australian Volunteers International (AVI), Australia's largest international volunteer sending organisation.
AVI supports the Friends of Venilale with financial administration assistance and the placement of Australian Volunteers into key positions within the region.
Your details will be held by the Friends of Venilale and AVI, but will not be passed on to a third party. AVI's privacy policy is available for viewing at www.australianvolunteers.com
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