Viva Timor-Leste!

The Bourke community came together last weekend to mark a significant international milestone - the 23rd anniversary of the independence of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste – or ‘East Timor’.

Stephen Lawrence, MLC, who attended the event as Duty MLC for Barwon, heaped praise on the organisers, many of whom work at the Bourke Abattoirs.

“Thank you to Jovi and all the East Timorese for inviting me to this celebration at Bourke,” Mr Lawrence said.

“The East Timorese freedom struggle is one of the great stories of history and well worth celebrating.”

Timor Leste was a Portuguese colony for hundreds of years, until a declaration of independence in 1974 followed by a massive invasion by the Indonesian military in 1975.

The small nation resisted what bigger powers had decided for it and then fought a decades-long David and Goliath battle that not many, apart from them, thought they could win.

Unfortunately, the victory came at a massive human cost, and now they are building a modern democratic nation with their own resources and government. […]

Read more local news in the printed edition of The Western Herald.

To subscribe call (02) 6872 2333 today and receive The Western Herald in your letterbox next week!

Guests at centre - Stephen Lawrence MLC, Kath Sneddon, Father Oche and Father Alan with part of Bourke’s Timorese community. Photo TWH