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Our organisation is in regular communication with our friends in Baucau. Find out what has been happening over there and what we have been up to here.
Vale Rae Kingsbury
Rae was a founder and strong supporter of the Friends of Baucau.
CEO Victorian Local Government Association (VLGA) 2007
Two terms as Darebin Councillor and one term as Mayor
Served on Boards of Municipal Association (MAV) and Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) and was the first woman elected as President of the ALGA 2004
Was Honorary Consul for Timor-Leste to Victoria 2012-2018
Co-Coordinated the Australian observer mission to Timor-Leste’s vote for independence
Victorian Government’s Local Champion 2017.
From a background in nursing, midwifery, trade unions, international public policy work with Oxfam and as a governance officer in local government, Rae had a unique perspective on advocacy and working with local communities in particular in Timor-Leste, the Philippines and Darebin’s Indigenous Community.
Rae first visited Timor-Leste in 1999, as one of the three civil society representatives. As a Darebin Councillor following that visit, she was instrumental, along with Abel Guterres, in responding to Xanana Gusmao’s suggestion, of a partnership between the City of Darebin and the City of Baucau. The Australia Timor-Leste Friendship Relationships came into being in early 2000 with Baucau, Aileu and Suai being the first to be set up. Friendship relationships were to be based on mutual respect and broad community involvement on both sides.
As well as serving as Convenor of the Friends of Baucau, Rae was project officer for the Friends of Aileu, and she promoted friendship relationships with Timor-Leste wherever possible. In her roles at the ALGA and the VLGA she continued to advocate for Timor-Leste’s development, always very much from a community perspective with the Timorese right to self-determination being paramount.
From helping out at coffee stalls and fundraising events, chairing meetings, organizing trips and attending the Friends of Baucau office weekly to deal with administration tasks, Rae was always there and always thinking strategically about how best to support the Timorese. She will be remembered with fondness and admiration by all at Friends of Baucau.
Young Leaders Awards: Supporting the International Permaculture Convergence
Friends of Baucau and Friends of Aileu are two of the oldest friendship associations, in Victoria, established in 2000. Permatil is one of our long-standing partners in Timor-Leste. This year, through PermaYouth, Permatil organised the 2025 International PermaYouth Convergence (IPYC–2025).
The Convergence was a celebration of permaculture, arts, culture and music spread across six days. This inaugural event was based on the highly successful PermaYouth movement in Timor-Leste. By sharing permaculture knowledge and practice with participants from across the world, Permatil and Permayouth are building an active global PermaYouth network, future leadership and global environmental stewardship. ‘You must first plant knowledge and practice before you plant water, a seed or a tree’.
The IPYC–2025 brought together delegations of youth (17 to 35 years) and their community leaders from six continents to camp onsite in Fatuquero, Ermera. Participants had six days to participate in permaculture practice, learn from one another, share stories, make friendships and become part of a global youth network of future caretakers of our planet. By day participants were immersed in all things permaculture to share and engage in practical activities about food, water and climate resilience, leadership traiining and cultural exchanges. By night participants came together to share and enjoy a celebration and exchange of knowledge of indigenous culture, music, art and friendship.
For both FoA and FoB, supporting participation of young people in the Convergence was a way of engaging with young people, and especially young Timorese, in ways to learn from Timor-Leste and to support Timor-Leste. We are keenly aware of the ageing of our committees and communities of support. We hoped that we might find new supporters for our programs, new linkages with the Timorese community in Melbourne and new ways of engaging with youth in Aileu and Baucau.
An Opportunity for Young Leaders to Join the Convergence
Friends of Baucau offered two awards for young Australians with a connection to Timor-Leste, to join the Convergence in October 2025 and Friends of Aileu offered one award.
Three young leaders were selected by Friends of Baucau and Friends of Aileu to join the Future Collective group going to the Convergence: Tina de Melo, Helena da Silva and Xavi dos Santos (accompanied by his father Chico dos Santos). See appendix x for details of the selection process. Aoife Carli Hannan also joined the tour as a FoA rep.
Ben Walta of Future Collective organised a very helpful pre-departure briefing session on 1 October at CERES to go over the Timor Trip Info Book and answer any and all questions about preparing for the trip, what to bring and what to expect. Future Collective also provided FoA and Fob with copies of various policies relating to Future Collective as an organisation and its policies.
The three Young Leaders met in Dili on 15 October. Ben Walta, leader, Joanino from ARC and three other people completed the group.
During the trip the Young Leaders spent five days immersed in the Convergence, learning about permaculture principles and traditional landcare practices. They connected with young people from Timor-Leste, Fiji, Indonesia, Japan, the United States, France, Germany, and Australia.
The group had the opportunity to attend a range of workshops including water conservation, sea turtle protection and traditional medicine. A key highlight was learning how to make akar (traditional palm bread) and to take part in natural tais dyeing and thread-making.
Each evening, the Convergence brought participants together through music and storytelling. They enjoyed performances by celebrated Timorese artists, including Permatil founder Ego Lemos and the popular rock band Familia Alcatraz, as well as music from the international participants.
Both Friends of Aileu and Friends of Baucau are proud to have had the opportunity to support the participation of young Timorese-Australians in this significant learning experience.
Medal of Timor for Friends of Baucau
Friends of Baucau was proud to receive the Medal of Timor-Leste from HE President Jose Ramos Horta ion 12 August 2025, commemorating 25 years of support for our friends and partners in Baucau. Coordinator Ursula Harrison received the medal on behalf of Friends of Baucau.
Friends of Baucau attends the Dili Friendship Conference
The Australia Timor-Leste Friendship Network Conference took place in Dili on July 10 and 11 2025 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation building. Hosted by the Ministry of State Administration and the Australian Embassy, the conference brought together 500 participants - Australian supporters, their Timorese partners, all the Municipal Presidents and every Post Administrator.
So many wonderful connections were made, good information shared about the Municipality structure & changes in responsibility plus the Australian Embassy /DFAT programs. The energy was terrific. The Conference showcased many powerful stories of solidarity, development, and people-to-people connections that truly make a difference.
We were able to meet with the President of Baucau Municipality and the Baucau Vila Post Administrator, as well as our partners who came to join us at the conference: Sra Regina da Sousa, Snr Rui Sertorio Sequeira, Snr Louis ‘Hos’ da Costa, Candida (Candy) da Costa Felipe, Jacinta do Carmo de Sa and Maria Elisa de Assis Belo.
We also had the chance to catch up with Baucau Hamutuk – Friends of Baguia, Venilale and Vemasse. More than thirty Australian Friendship Groups participated, including Friends of Aileu, Friends of Baguia, Friends of Baucau, Friends of Ermera, Friends of Suai/Covalima, Friends of Lacluta, Friends of Lolotoe, Friends of Maliana, Friends of Venilale, Friends of Vemasse, Friends of Lospalos, Geelong-Viqueque Friendship Schools, Blue Mountains Hatobuilico Friendship Committee, Canberra Friends of Dili, Ballarat Friends of Ainaro, Bendigo-Maubisse Friendship Committee, among others.
In recognition of the work of these groups over the last 25 or so years, President Jose Ramos Horta will award the Medal of Timor Leste to the groups in a ceremony in Melbourne on 12 August. Numbers are restricted so this event will be by invitation only.
See TL government report: https://timor-leste.gov.tl/?p=44239&lang=en&n=1
A Short History of Friends of Baucau
2025 marks the 25th anniversary of several Australian Friendship Groups — a significant milestone in the enduring friendship and solidarity between communities in Australia and Timor-Leste. The first Friendship Groups were established in 2000 by three local councils in Victoria: Darebin, Moreland, and Port Phillip, as Friends of Baucau, Friends of Aileu, and Friends of Suai/Covalima. Today, there are 32 Friendship Groups across Australia. To celebrate our friendship, Friends of Baucau has written a short history of our friendship with our partners and communities in Baucau.
