Euroa Rotarians, Des Nicel and Michael Bell, were two of a five member RAWCS team that constructed a community centre in Beloi, Atauro, Timor Leste, in June 2015. To be precise, the

Rotary clubs of Frankston Sunrise and Bright instigated the project after receiving a Rotary International Grant three years ago. The two clubs are responsible for construction projects in Maubisse, Atabae and Beloi in Timor Leste throughout 2013-2015. Rotarians from other Victorian clubs have participated in the teams.

Atauro Island is a small island situated 25km north of Dili, East Timor, on the extinct Wetar segment of the volcanic Inner Banda Arc, between the Indonesian islands of Alor and Wetar. Politically it comprises one of the sub-districts of the Dili District of East Timor. It is about 25 km long and 9 km wide, about 105 km2 in area, and is inhabited by about 8,000 people. The nearest island is the Indonesian island of Liran, 12 km to the northeast. At 700 m above sea level, Mount Manucoco is the island's highest point. The ocean strait between Atauro and Timor drops 3500m below sea level; conversely, it is much

shallower along the ridge leading to Wetar.

The Nakroma, a gift from Germany, is a ferry connecting the island to the capital Dili; the trip takes about three hours. The ferry is the main lifeline for the transportation of goods, materials and people. Dili can also be reached by fishermen's boats. Atauro is also being considered as a destination for eco-tourism, and its coral reefs are being discovered by scuba enthusiasts. It is a small, unstable island with a rugged landscape, plagued by frequent landslides, as well as a shortage of fresh water, especially during the drier months. Fresh water springs are present approximately 2km north of Berau, with minor reservoirs around Macadade and the eastern slopes of Mount Manucoco. Wells along the coast provide poor quality water to most coastal townships. In 2004, Portugal funded a project to improve the availability of water and its distribution infrastructure, but a critical water shortage persists. Atauro is unusual in East Timor because many of the northern inhabitants are Protestants, not Catholics. They were evangelized by a Dutch Calvinist mission from Alor in the early 20th century. There are also some Protestants among the southern population, as well. The Netherlands and Portugal agreed Atauro to be Portuguese in the treaty of Lisbon 1859, but the Portuguese flag was not raised before 1884, when there was an official ceremony. The inhabitants of Atauro did not start to pay taxes to Portugal before 1905. Atauro was used as a prison island soon after settlement by the Portuguese. In Portuguese Timor, Atauro was organized as part of the Dili municipality, coinciding with modern Dili District. On August 11, 1975, when the UDT mounted a coup in a bid to halt the increasing popularity of Fretilin, the Portuguese Governor Mário Lemos Pires fled to Atauro, from where he later attempted to broker an agreement between the two groups. He was urged by Fretilin to return and resume the decolonisation process, but he insisted that he was awaiting instructions from the government in Lisbon, then increasingly uninterested. The chaos ultimately led to the Indonesian occupation. The island became part of independent East Timor on May 20, 2002.

Timor Leste - Atauro IslandArrived in TL on Sunday, May 31, and met Team 1 members, Alan Laughton, Jason Poole, Ben Savage, Rob Davies Sam and Natalie Graham. We stayed at the Carmelite Convent in Dili @$20/night. Rotary Districts 9790 and 9800 constructed accommodation facilities at the convent in 2003. Members of our team were David Drennan, Gavan Hogan, Patrick O’Shea, Des Nicel and Michael Bell. David and Gavan were non Rotarians.

Team 1 was responsible for taking the trailer full of equipment and materials from Dili to the work site. The truck and trailer would not fit on the ferry separately and the trailer had to be put on the truck. Jason was the builder but he had no wood as it had not been released from the container at the wharf. So Team One dug the trench, constructed the cement footings and put up a 1.5m brick wall. Sam the electrician installed the lights and switches. The Team refurbished a toilet/shower block, concreted a drain, erected a door and painted the outhouse. Team 1 did a really good job particularly so with few materials and some challenges to overcome. Jason got crook as well but he soldiered on regardless.Team 2 arrived and so had the wood. In fact Bunnings had delivered an extra 2 packs of skirting board surplus to our needs valued at over $2000. It was obvious to us that Hume Hardware supplies in Yarrawonga, Darwin, would have a puzzle on their hands. We also had 13 surplus sheets of blue tongue ply flooring worth $1500.Team 2 builders had plenty of expertise. David, Patrick and Des took on the job of leading the team through the building process. Gav was more than capable and took on the job of "roadie" ensuring that the generator was in place and going, leads were ready for use along with saw benches, electrical equipment, water and fuel. I was understudy to Gav. Six local boys (Luis, Luis, Saddam, Manuel, Ameto) worked alongside us along with 2 local tradesmen (Fernando, Alexandra) and Acere, the interpreter was also handy with the tools.After taking the water taxi ($45US each), meeting up with Barry and Super Mario and settling into our accommodation at Barry's Place, we went to the site and got stuck into the job. We bought drinking water from Barry (5 x 1Lt bottles @ $1.50 each). The local water could well make one ill. The bottles were for refill throughout our time on Atauro. With footings in place we cut the bearers to size and started to erect the floor joists. Not bad considering we only went for a look. Knock off was around 5:30pm and then the line up for a beer and shower wash followed by a generous meal. We met some of the visitors at Barry's Place - a number being volunteers with Palms or other NGO’s. It was a warm night with the sound of the waves constantly lapping the shore.

Up around 6:00am on day 2; breakfast of eggs, buns, fruit. And off to the work site. We purchased a larger water container @ $10 from Barry. It started to rain about an hour after work commenced and we adjourned to the resort until lunch time. Some commenced the verandah, putting in the bearers whilst others worked on the bearers and joists on the extension inside the building. Patrick and Dave started building the trusses for the roof extension. We ended up with a solid day's work and a good result. We continued the work on Thursday and erected two roof trusses and 3/4 of the joists on the verandah bearers were in place. We bought petrol; a very rudimentary process - 20lt containers were filled with petrol and placed in a big open plastic dish. Then the owner scooped the petrol into a funnel and into our container. It was all done in a small closed room and the fumes were overpowering. Cost for 20lt was $30.It was now Thursday-Saturday interval. Patrick worked with Fernando to pull down the hip of the roof that needed to be relocated to the end of the extended building. He also assisted the local tradesmen erect the rafters, put up the purlins, extend the roof, replace the hip and reroof the structure. David and Des led the erection of the waling plate on the wall of the verandah and Gavan and I worked with the boys to measure and cut the bearers to size. Each bearer had to be individually cut. Des worked with the boys to screw and nail the bearers into position. The boys also dismantled the brick wall that had been the external wall of the original building and Gav carted the debris away from the site. Dave and Des worked together to correctly position the pitch of the verandah ready for installation of the rafters.

We called rest days for Saturday afternoon and Sunday.

We walked along the coastal road and went snorkeling in the sea.

There is a continual exchange of tourists and we converse with each group. Super Mario has shown us the video that he has made to earn money to fund the welfare of girls and women on the island. The video is well made and costs $15. The market took place on Saturday with dried fish, cheap Chinese made products, cooking oil, vegetables and fruit being the main items of trade. Local carvers made statues and tried to sell them to the tourists. The ferry came in around 10:00am and people alighted for a day on

the island. People lined up for their tickets at the ferry terminal throughout the day and the ferry commenced the return journey at 3:30pm. Obviously the weekly ferry is the life line for the transportation of goods to the island.

Monday, June 8After the weekend rest, we were keen to get things going again. Pat worked with the local boys constructing the tin on the roof. Dave, Des, Gavan and I continued to work on the rafters on the verandah. It took all day to erect the rafters. The waling board was flush with the building but that did not mean that it was vertical. The pine posts on the verandah were twisted and it was difficult to install the fascia boards. Des came up with a way to twist them back into line. We cut groves into the rafters so that they would sit neatly into place over the fascia boards. At the end of the day, we are in a position to erect the purlins on the verandah. Skylights have been fitted to the roof and Pat is happy with the outcome. We bought water after travelling first to Vila and finding none available and then locating a place about 400m up the road the other way. The water cost $2. We also purchased petrol in Vila. The price for 20lt was again $30.After completing the day’s work, we joined guests of the resort in cocktails up the hill at a hotel which was more than likely a renovated Portuguese home. The view over the trees and ocean was outstanding. We met Lyle and Anita. Lyle is Tess Noonan Egan's brother. Small world!! Anita works with the health department in the NT. Her specialty is geriatric mental health. She reported that the health problems in the NT were significant despite all of the resources put into place. She works in Darwin and travels each two months to service remote communities. We are tired but happy with the progress made. We could easily finish the job but we will stall and leave a good deal of the decking to Team 3 along with Barry's extra work.At this stage, we have to erect the purlins on the verandah; complete the roof on the extension; commence and finish the roof on the verandah; cut the tin on the old roof to allow the roof on the verandah to have a decent pitch; render the brick walls and paint the wall.

Tuesday, June 9

It was a very warm and humid day and we kept busy. Pat continued assisting Fernando and Alexandre construct the roof over the extended part of the community center and the job is now complete from that aspect. The skylights have been installed and the roof looks great. Patrick and Des, assisted by Luis and Saddam, worked at constructing the step to the verandah. Gavan took a sick day to recover from a bug that he felt had been developing over the past day or so. Dave continued with the rafters trimming the edges and then organised the boys to erect the battens. This involved cutting the 240mm boards in half to make suitable purlins, then screwing them into place. This took the rest of the day. I worked with Luis and Alexandre to drill holes in the brick wall to enable ventilation under the floor. We are now ready to erect the roofing iron over the verandah. We trimmed the old roof line to enable the new iron to fit between the battens and the existing roof. The new iron is curved in the troughs to deter any water being forced upward and between the roofing iron and the waling plate. We packed up at around 4:00pm. The heat had sapped our energy. We mixed with other guests at the resort meeting Walter and Caroline. Both are volunteer English language teachers working with PALMS in Dili.

So we are coming to the end of the project. The decking remains to be installed and we will leave part of this job to Team 3. Hammers are at a premium and the members of Team 3 might like to bring along a decent hammer. The door in the extended community centre needs to be installed. Some lengths of board need to be screwed to the joists to overcome ridges on the existing wall at the base. This enables the decking to have a solid base to nail into. Two windows and the bamboo panels need to be erected above the brick wall on the extended community centre section. A drainage trench needs to be dug at the southern end of the

verandah so that water can get away reducing the chance for rotting of the wooden pine posts. The brick wall has to be rendered and painted. The site has to be cleaned up and the trailer cleaned out and repacked. Obviously a stock take would be in order. The trailer has to be taken by ferry back to the yard for storage at the end of the project. Meanwhile Barry has further work planned for Team 3. We are preparing for a little celebration on Friday when we hand over the money (wages) to the local team. The wages will amount to 12 days x $50 = $600US.We need to refuel the truck that we have been using. I consulted with Isobel who uses the truck occasionally. More fuel will be needed for the generator and more water. One drill is burned out and a cutting saw needs replacing. The trailer could do with two new hammers. It is 5:00am on Wednesday morning. The waves are pounding the seaside about 100m from the accommodation. The sky is clear with bright stars overhead. Two roosters are heralding the start of a new day.

Wednesday evening, June 10It is 9:40pm on Wednesday evening, June 10. Today Dave, Saddam, Manuel and Alexandre worked on the verandah roof in very hot conditions. It has been completed. Fernando worked on

the ridging on the roof and hip. It has been completed. Gav still has not got over ill health and spent the day recovering at the resort. Des and Pat worked with Luis and others to complete 1/3 of the decking. I drilled more holes on the northern wall to assist the air venting underneath the floor. We purchased 20lt of fuel @$30. We purchased another 2 hammers @$12 from the Chinese Store. The Chinese Store is a tin shed stacked with all the items needed by the locals.

What remains to be done?The walls need to be rendered by the local boys. A gap between the original floor and new floor has to be cemented and smoothed. The rendered area then needs to be painted.The decking has to be completed. To enable this action, at least 14 joists need an extension so that the decking can be secured to the joists along the original building. Dave installed the structure for windows to be constructed along one wall. There are five other such sections all with different measures. The earth works need attention on the southern side of the verandah. The steps need to be made and secured into place. An inventory of trailer items would be helpful. A list of replacement tools and implements needs to be made. Such things as angle grinder wheels, bevel, tapes, squares, nails, screws, hammers, cordless drill, circular saw, guard on the cross saw are items that come to mind.Dave suggested that an improved induction and introduction process would be helpful. Such things as name tags would assist team members identify others. The locals would feel better informed when the change-over takes place. And the visiting team would find it easier to quickly identify and assimilate with the locals.The truck doors need to be repaired. The truck needs to be refueled and cleaned out. We intend to farewell our team with a party for the locals - just some drinks and sweets. The locals also need to be paid and thanked for their hospitality and effort. The staff at Barry’s Place also should be congratulated and thanked. The site needs to be cleaned up before Team 3 relocates to another task.Tickets need to be booked for the ferry. Can do this via Barry. Accommodation needs to be confirmed at the convent for two nights. We need to contact Mario about picking us up from the ferry. We need to rent a vehicle or borrow the rotary vehicle so Darryl is the person to contact. Best to pick up this vehicle on Saturday night for an early departure on Sunday for Atabae.

It is 6:19am and I am sitting in the cool morning breeze coming in over the water. The sun is not far away from rising in the east. The waves make a very peaceful sound as they lap the shore. It is high tide. There are no other sounds. This place could grow on you! My clothes, washed last night, have dried ready for dress this morning. My bed is made and the last day of the build awaits. Tomorrow is clean up trailer day and celebration with the team.

It has been a satisfying experience. The local community has gained a valuable asset. It is 9:00pm on Thursday, June 11, and we have finished our part of the job. Today we purchased 20lt of petrol @$30 and 20lt of diesel @$27.We have left a section of the decking on the verandah to be completed. The brick wall remains to be rendered and painted. A window has to be constructed next to the door at the front. Two fluorescent lights have to be wired and hung on the trusses. Drainage needs to be dug to prevent water collecting and rotting the pine posts at the end of the verandah. The trailer needs to be

loaded. This includes the ladders stored in the shed.Work will continue on another project designated by Barry.The truck has been refueled. The petrol container has been filled. Des repaired the door handle. Keys and codes have to be passed over to Laurie. The sim card still has some time attached.

Friday, June 12Time to stock take, pack up and farewell the team at Beloi. Ameto, chairman of the Community Centre, led the farewell ceremony. Starting with a long prayer and concluding with "gather your flies and mates, pick up your bbq and clear off out of here" the locals provided wine, tea, coffee, dried banana. We provided soft drinks, sweet biscuits and lollies at a cost of $21. Ameto thanked us and the women presented each of us with a locally made thatched gift. We paid the wage of $600 covering 12 days of work, including the first Saturday which was the final Saturday for Team 1. The boys rendered the brick wall that day. We accompanied Isobel to the Beloi Hotel for cocktails and other drinks. It was very pleasant company and ideal surrounds.

Saturday, June 13Barry kindly took us for a ride up the hill (700m above sea level) and we could see Indonesia from one side and the main Island from the other. Apart from fishing and tourism there is little to sustain Atauro. There was a market on Saturday and people came across from Dili to attend. The main items for sale were fish, octopus, cheap products from China, cooking oil, soap and some clothes. Many people ate at the market.We bid farewell to the people at Atauro and in particular, Barry, Isobel and Super Mario. The ferry was packed with people and vehicles carrying goods. The interior passenger space was like a sauna. It took 3 hours for the trip across the bay to Dili. We downed a few refreshments that night.

Rotary’s representative in Timor, Daryl Mills, provided his ute for our use and Mario was present at the jetty to welcome us. The Convent was again our accommodation place for the night. We adjourned to the Dili Beach Hotel for a drink and a meal. Most enjoyable! Then a cold shower before calling it another long day in Timor.

Sunday, June 14Patrick, Des and I travelled to Atabae to visit the people and view the success of the last project at the school. Two Rotary teams had constructed facilities in 2014. Sister said that the number of female borders increased from 12 to 30 and this was due to parent satisfaction with the improvements made by Rotary. The two new cook tops were in full use but now were not sufficient to cater for the numbers and the cooking stones were again present on the floor. The kitchen roof still needs replacement. The pine lining of the dormitory ceiling certainly does its job in cooling the premises. The dormitory space was full of double deck bunks. The toilets were kept clean and the showers were in use. Considering that we dropped in unannounced everything looked in ideal condition. We had a cup of coffee with Betty and her family, our hosts in 2014, before returning to Dili. There were new buildings in Atabae and the main highway between Dili and Indonesia, had signs of improvement in the surface but plenty remains to be done. We arranged for the cleaning and refueling of Daryl’s vehicle. We welcomed Team 3 and carried out the induction procedure with Laurie Warfe, Ian Round, Jenny Cuddihy, Marie Ann Condello, Wayne Ablitt and Don Whyte.Minus Dave and Gav who were visiting friends, the two teams gathered at the pub for the evening meal.

Monday, June 15Team 3 were up early and gone by 7:15am. We were driven to the airport by Daryl and our plane left ahead of schedule. Currently I am minding the luggage at Darwin Airport and finishing off this account. I enjoyed working with our team members including the locals in Beloi. We enjoyed meeting the guests at the resort and we were treated very well. Team members worked hard and in harmony to get the job done. It is most appropriate to congratulate and thank Dave, Patrick, Des, and Gav for their commitment, effort, team work and ability to have a laugh. “You can’t just order a coffee!”; “you think that I know nothing - well you are all wrong! I know f… all!” and “if I have any more rice, I’ll have to stuff it down the throat with my thumb” were the quotes.

Stay save and keep well clear of salt water!

Mick on behalf of Team 2Atauro, Timor LesteJune 2015