Mansfield’s Friends of Venilale (FoV) were humbled to be among 26 friendship groups to be awarded a Medal of the Order of Timor-Leste by president and Nobel Peace Laureate Dr Jose Ramos-Horta at a special presentation in Melbourne last week.

The ceremony conducted at the Kelvin Club on Tuesday, 12 August saw the president confer the Order of Timor-Leste in the category of Collar, Medal, Insignia, Medal of Merit, Timor-Leste Medal of Solidarity, and certificates of recognition, upon distinguished individuals, associations, and friendship groups, who had made significant contributions for the benefit of Timorese people during the national development process.

On behalf of FoV Julie Aldous, a founding member, accepted the Order of Timor-Leste in recognition of the support this group, the Mansfield Shire and the people of Mansfield have provided to Venilale for more than 20 years.

Accompanied by Lynn Elder, FoV committee member, and Boss (Valeriano) Da Silva, Liaison Support Officer for FoV, she was deeply honoured to accept this distinguished award which will be formally presented to the Mansfield group next week.

"It is an honour of international significance for the Mansfield community," she said.

The Timor-Leste medal presentation in Melbourne was a beautifully intimate occasion where those receiving medals, either as individuals or on behalf of organisations like FoV, were privileged to hear the president speak personally, reflectively and entertainingly.

He spoke of his relationship with Australia from before the Indonesian occupation, through to tragic circumstances such as driving the Australian journalists to Balibo where he later advised them to leave, to plans for the future with Timor-Leste soon to become the 11th member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

As Ms Aldous expressed her gratitude to our community for its on-going support of one of our nearest neighbours, Timor-Leste, she reflected on the positive influence Mansfield's forward-thinking service groups, schools, health services, churches, individuals, charity and philanthropic groups provide for our young people.

"By leading and educating about care for those beyond our immediate circumstances, we can have confidence that young Mansfield people will have the breadth of vision to work for peace - and we are seeing that already in the work they do," said Ms Aldous.

"These awards symbolise our nation’s profound appreciation for those who have walked alongside Timor-Leste in times of struggle and progress,” said President Ramos-Horta.

“Their selflessness and commitment inspire us to continue building a future of unity and prosperity."

The ceremony underscored Timor-Leste’s enduring commitment to acknowledge those who have shaped its journey toward peace and development said the president.

Two notable individuals awarded the Insignia of the Order of Timor-Leste included musician ⁠Paulo Almeida who performed with Hamoris Lian Timor at the Mansfield Performing Arts Centre this month.

Another was ⁠Paulie Stewart ,former band member of Painters & Dockers, newspaper journalist and social activist whose brother Tony was one of the Balibo Five journalists killed by Indonesian forces in October 1975.

He accepted the award on behalf of the Dili Allstars from Dr Jose Ramos Horta for 30 years of activism and music promoting independence.

Established in 2009, the award is highest honour currently awarded by Timor-Leste.

President Ramos-Horta is visiting Melbourne to mark the 50th anniversary of the Timorese community in Australia and attending various events.

Prior to the medal presentation the president attended a lunch time performance at the Melbourne Town Hall of the Boite Schools Chorus 2025 – Mai Fali Eh - Songs and Stories of Timor-Leste.

The chorus consisted of more than 130 students from various primary schools including Yea.

Following the concert President Ramos-Horta addressed students and audience members including many from friendship groups attending the medal presentations.

The president extended a heartfelt and personal invitation to the students, their families, and the wider Australian community to visit Timor-Leste.

He also made a most welcomed announcement of the exciting prospect of direct flights from Melbourne to Dili via the Timorese airline Aero Dili without the need to catch a connecting service from Darwin in the Northern Territory for the current one-hour flight.

President Ramos-Horta encouraged the audience to experience firsthand Timor-Leste's unique culture and natural beauty, particularly the spectacular whale-watching season.