Universitys 150th gift to the people of East Timor
[ UniNews Vol. 12, No. 6
21 April - 5 May 2003 ]
A $200,000 gift from the University of Melbourne will help around 1000 young East Timorese women complete secondary schooling, according to East Timors First Lady Kirsty Sword-Gusmao.
Ms Sword-Gusmao was speaking after she and University Chancellor Ms Fay Marles signed an agreement recently that will see Ms Sword-Gusmaos Alola Foundation administer the program of scholarships on behalf of the University.The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Alan Gilbert, announced the $200,000 funding a 150th Anniversary gift from the University to the people of East Timor at a public lecture in Wilson Hall by President of East Timor Xanana Gusmao.
More than 1000 people gave the President a standing ovation at the conclusion of his address. The lecture was the second annual Chancellors Human Rights Lecture and the first in the Universitys 150th Anniversary Public Lecture Series.
The public lecture was the final event in a busy day at the University for President Gusmao. Earlier, the President and First Lady took part in a seminar for students and staff of the University hosted by the School of Anthropology, Geography and Environmental Studies (SAGES).
Professor Marcia Langton, Professor of Australian Indigenous Studies, provided a heartfelt welcome to the President and First Lady. Professor Langton, other staff and students expressed their desire to strengthen and extend their existing links with East Timor and, through opportunities for mutual learning with the people there, to contribute to the restoration of a confident and culturally rich community in East Timor.
It is also a great honour for an Aboriginal person to be able to welcome the President of Timor-Leste, and to have the opportunity to thank you for your leadership and courage, she said. I want to say here today how inspirational your work has been to many Aboriginal people, both during the occupation and following the plebiscite.
Your leadership in matters of reconciliation is a beacon which others could do no worse than follow, Professor Langton told the President.
President Gusmao also launched the new Master of International Development at Melbourne University Privates School of Development Studies and presented two MUPL scholarships to students undertaking the Masters course. The students are Ms Pebetse Maleka from South Africa and Mr George Bouma, whose research topic is Conflict and governance of natural resources in East Timor a case study in the South East Asian region.
Mr Graeme Russell, General Manager of the School of Development Studies, presented President Gusmao with a Scholarship for a nominee of the Government of East Timor to undertake 10 weeks of intensive English language training at MUPLs Hawthorn English Language Centre in Melbourne.
Later in the afternoon, Ms Terry Bracks, wife of the Victorian Premier, took part in a forum hosted by the University to promote the Alola Foundations Friendship Schools Program. The forum brought together representatives of Victorian municipal councils and schools for a briefing by the First Lady on the Program, which links schools in Australia with schools in East Timor and provides learning kits on East Timor for Australian school children.
In his public lecture, President Gusmao spoke about the challenges facing East Timor in its progress to peace and stability, focusing on the national reconciliation process in Timor-Leste and its importance in developing positive regional relations.
He outlined the work of East Timors Truth and Reconciliation Commission and stressed the importance of a solid foundation of human rights in building social justice. He also addressed East Timors relationship with Indonesia, praising the political courage and real statesmanship of Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri in attending East Timors Independence Day last year.
The incredibly warm welcome that President Megawati received showed that the East Timorese people spontaneously understood the significance of her presence as the symbol of a new relationship, and that they are extremely open to new peaceful relations with Indonesia and appreciated and acknowledged this act of courage, he said.
President Gusmao said that when two months later he paid a State Visit to Indonesia he was warmly received by President Megawati, her Cabinet, the Parliament, and the people of Indonesia.
A very special and mutually respectful relationship has developed between East Timor and Indonesia, he said.
President Gusmao acknowledged the Universitys strong and recognised commitment to the work of promoting peace, reconciliation and conflict resolution.
The full text of President Gusmaos lecture is available at http://www.unimelb.edu.au/ExtRels/majorations/
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