By Raia Flinos
LAST week, the Mornington Peninsula Friends of Lospalos group were awarded a Medal of the Order of Timor-Leste by President José Ramos-Horta.
The ceremony, which took place at the Kelvin Club in Melbourne, brought together friendship groups from around Australia and was a celebration of their contributions to Timor-Leste over the past 25 years.
“These awards symbolise our nation’s profound appreciation for those who have walked alongside Timor-Leste in times of struggle and progress. Their selflessness and commitment inspire us to continue building a future of unity and prosperity,” Ramos-Horta said in a press release.
The friendship groups were formed following Timor-Leste’s independence vote in 1999 which saw Indonesian authorities depart and leave destruction in their wake.
Tim Rodgers, former Mornington Peninsula Shire councillor and vice-president of the Friends of Lospalos, accepted the award on behalf of the group and was presented the medal by Ramos-Horta.
“It’s just incredible. I can’t thank [Ramos-Horta] or the people of Timor enough,” Rodgers said. “It was one of the great days of my life.”
Rodgers said he is in awe of Ramos-Horta and everything he has done for the people of Timor-Leste and that he is his “hero”.
The Friends of Lospalos group meet once a month and communicate with their fellow community group in Lospalos, Timor-Leste.
Rodgers first became involved with the group in 2006 when he was a delegate from the council and has remained an active member of the group since. He has visited Timor-Leste several times and says he developed strong friendships with members of the community.
“The commission over in Lospalos, they come up with all the projects and discuss projects from their community; what they think their needs are and requirements are,” Rodgers said. “They will submit those projects to us, and we will discuss them on a monthly basis and if everyone’s in agreeance, then we fund those projects.”
The Mornington Peninsula group work together to fundraise and help make positive change in the Lospalos community. So far, they have helped provide tanks and fresh water, funded scholarships to help train teachers, and provided eye-tests and prescription glasses to those who required them.
Despite the help they have provided, the Friends of Lospalos remain humble and are grateful to the Lospalos community for what they have given back.
“We help a little bit, but really, they help us by showing how they are so resilient and courageous,” said Rodgers.
Rodgers said receiving the Medal of the Order of Timor-Leste is an honour and they are all grateful for the acknowledgement. The group plans to continue to build and foster their relationship with their fellow community group.
“We’ll keep working with the people of Lospalos to provide whatever support they feel they need from us,” Rodgers said.
First published in the Mornington News – 19 August 2025