Derarca O’Mahony, Convenor and Facilitator of AusTimor Friendship Network

A past photo of Derarca on site with teacher Leopoldina and a sponsored student.

Chairman Anne Scott introduced Derarca O'Mahony who gave us very interesting presentation on Timor-Leste and particularly the Baguia region from the perspective of an Australia-Timor Friendship Group (one of 30 or so friendships groups in Australia).  Derarca's main focus group was on the one linked to that area. Thus we learnt that this remote area covered both mountainous (Mt Matebian)  and flat terrain. 

Predominantly sustained on rudimentary agricultural the 13000 people living in 10 villages in Baguia have access to only limited government support--only 5 government employees.   The remoteness was essentially derived from the inability to connect to capital city Dili, the lack of transport options was pronounced --there was one road in and one truck per day traversing that.

The friendship group concentrated its efforts and limited budget (obtained through grants and fund raising) to providing educational and development support, but prompted by the wishes of the people rather than imposed from outside.   The former manifest in a series of scholarships about 100 for children mostly high school age to gain an education.    The lack of education in the country and hence foremen and middle managers meant that notwithstanding significant royalty streams from oil rights it was difficult to efficiently sustain development works.   Education was the key.

Members of the friendship group regularly visited Baguia and helped hands on with development  projects , for example establishing water tanks at schools.

Derarca had had several visits.  She mentioned a past career as a chartered accountant,  and present IT project manager role.  Maybe that explained her pleasure in presenting a photo of some high school children acknowledging some acquired computer skills.

An inveterate traveller and newly appointed National Convenor for the AusTimorFriendship Network Facilitators we offer the clubs support to her efforts to help harness the potential and progress of the world's newest country TimorLeste.