Strengthening Partnership for East Timor
16 May 2007
Mayor of Moreland City Council, Cr Mark O'Brien, with Kangan Batman TAFE's GM for Community, Youth and Health, Carmel McCarthy, CEO Ray Griffiths, and Mayor of Hume City Council, Cr Gary Jungwirth.
Kangan Batman TAFE was one of six organisations to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Moreland and Hume City Councils to strengthen support for their assistance to Timor-Leste (East Timor) on Friday 4 May 2007.
The Civic Reception, held at the Hume Global Learning Centre in Broadmeadows, celebrated the seventh anniversary of the Friends of Aileu establishment. The Friends of Aileu began with the signing of a Friendship Agreement between the two councils and the District of Aileu, by the former President of Timor-Leste, Xanana Gusmão on 4 May 2000.
To mark the occasion, a new documentary on Xanana Gusmão, 'A Hero's Journey', was also screened.
Kangan Batman TAFE CEO, Ray Griffiths, was delighted to formalise the partnership to help East Timor build its local democracy towards a sustainable future.
'Engagement with the community, on a local and international basis, has always been an implicit strength of Kangan Batman TAFE,' said Mr Griffiths. 'By taking part in this historic event, we are very proud to demonstrate our support for projects in the Timor-Leste.'
Support for Timor-Leste is incorporated into many aspects of Kangan Batman TAFE's operation since it was adopted as one of the Strategic Community projects in 2005. Staff raise funds for Friends of Aileu projects and tertiary scholarships, sell East Timor coffee at various campuses and provide support to colleagues in vocational education at Dili Institute of Technology.
On Sunday October 28, Kangan Batman TAFE will conduct a Walkathon at Broadmeadows to raise funds for Friends of Aileu. The community is warmly invited to attend and donations are gratefully received. Information will be posted at www.kangan.edu.au/about/corporate/community in the coming months.
For further information on the Friends of Aileu, contact the Project Coordinator, Richard Brown on 0407 091 004 or at rbrown@moreland.vic.gov.au
