PROTESTS continue to rage at every council meeting over a multitude of funding cuts made at the council’s 6 May meeting. Gone is the shire’s Climate Emergency Plan, and financial cuts have been made across arts and cultural programs. Compounding the situation is a determination to largely discontinue the contentious hand beach cleaning program, much to the dismay of its ardent and passionate supporters. The result has been rolling omni-protests covering a multitude of issues.
Seemingly above the fray is another group that has lost their funding; the Mornington Peninsula Friends of Lospalos Incorporated. Rather than heading to the next council meeting with placards, this group has quietly and calmly put forward their case for shire support, while a community groundswell has plugged the funding loss and ensured their ongoing work.
The Mornington Peninsula Friends of Lospalos was first established by the council in 2000 when the now Prime Minister of Timor-Leste Xanana Gusmao visited local governments throughout Australia establishing “friendship groups”; pairings of Australian local governments with local governments in the fledging nation.
These friendship groups were formed in the wake of the human and material destruction left by the departing Indonesian authorities after the 1999 independence vote. Ninety-five percent of schools were destroyed, 70% of all dwellings, 75% of healthcare and 40% of agriculture.
The spirit of friendship between the two nations was seen as a natural extension of the relationship that was established during the Second World War where Timorese supported Australian commandos – as porters and guides providing food and shelter and at a cost to Timorese lives. In the early 2000’s, in their time of need, Australia could, at a small cost, give back. After 25 years, and with funding to run it until at least 2030, the shire decided it was time to discontinue the funding.
Tootgarook ward councillor Cam Williams explained it as “Looking after people in their own backyard first”. “I think that goes a long way to looking after our own community. And I think a lot of the ratepayers in the shire do prefer their money to be spent locally and looking after locals before it goes looking at any other locations that aren’t in our shire,” said Williams. “Especially when we’re claiming money is very tight.”
But Brokil Ward councillor Patrick Binyon disagreed. “With regards to the removal of the subsidy to the Friends of Lospalos. I understand that it may not be specific to the Mornington Peninsula Shire. However, I would like the councillors to consider that the funding amount stretches so far in Timor. And specifically, to the scholarships for teachers in Timor, and I can’t stress enough that the impact that those dollars actually have over there,” said Binyon. “It may seem a small amount here, but we do know from my last delegates report how far that funding stretches over there, and so I’d like people to consider that.”
Regardless, the motion to cancel the funding to Friends of Lospalos was carried six-five. After the funding cancellation, a number of letters, seen by The News, were exchanged with the shire extolling the huge impact the small grant had on the people of Lospalos, but to no avail.
“The council budget cut was surprising,” said the president of the Friends of Lospalos, Colleen Hammond. “There was no prior consultation before this decision was taken. Council officers had recommended continuing the annual funding and the Friends had been assured by a prior council resolution of 12 July 2022 that this annual funding would continue to 2030.
“With the (now cut) $9,000 annual funding assurance to 2030, this funding has leveraged our volunteer work delivering Lospalos projects to the value of $250,000 between 2013 and 2024. “These projects have included – community houses in the outlying villages, a bridge, school library, school basketball court, administration ablution and running water extraction and facilities, flood food relief, teacher training scholarships, assisting establishing the Timorese seasonal worker program in Australia, and English language courses.”
The message from the Friends of Lospalos was clear. The work was essential and “we will continue”. The community reaction was swift, with a fundraising effort spearheaded by Coolart Ward councillor David Gill. “Cr Gill, in a powerful show of support, personally donated $5,000 matching dollar for dollar raised – we have successfully raised in excess of $10,000 for the Friends’ voluntary work in Lospalos, a remote village of 30,000 in Timor-Leste,” said Hammond.
The group is now focused on continuing their tradition of helping the people of Lospalos with a completely self-funded visit by a delegation planned for July. “We will take with us to Lospalos the 1,200 sunglasses and additional prescription glasses donated by our community and Lions Recycle for Sight in response to our recent appeal,” said Hammond (Old glasses, new vision: helping Timor-Leste see a brighter future, The News 6/5/25). “We will take with us the optometry equipment to fully equip the optometry clinic at the Lospalos Hospital to run the Specs outreach program to remote villages.”
Determined to continue the quarter of a century tradition of helping the people of Lospalos, despite having their shire funding cut, the Friends of Lospalos encourage residents to follow the voluntary work of the Mornington Peninsula Friends of Lospalos Inc. or to make a tax-deductible donation to further their work in Lospalos, Timor-Leste, visit friendsoflospalos.org (hit the DONATE button) or Email info@friendsoflospalos or Facebook Mornington Peninsula Friends of Lospalos.
First published in the Mornington News – 24 June 2025
