All of us who are involved in the Timor Leste Dental Program are very excited. As all our friends and supporters are well aware, we have been looking for funding for Troopie 2, for a new compressor and for the general running of the program. Knowing this, the fabulous people from the Chatswood Rotary Club have taken it upon themselves to organise a fundraising dinner, with our dental program as the major beneficiary! The icing on the cake is that the Honourable Tony Abbott, MP, Prime Minister, will be speaking at this excellent event. The fundraiser is on August 6th.
The program has had a stroke of luck – we have managed to procure a 2011 Toyota Landcruiser Troop Carrier which is already in TL!! Previously owned by another NGO, Seeds of Life, the ‘new’ troopie (T2) has been paid for (thanks to a loan from our Lions partners), registered and insured – a process which has taken 2 months – just in the nick of time for Team 3 to test drive it when they arrive next week! A massive thankyou to Daryl Mills, RAWCS’s man on the ground, ROMAC coordinator and great mate, for doing all the grunt work and making T2 a reality. Without him we wouldn’t have even known a vehicle was coming up for sale! Thanks Daryl!! (For those unfamiliar with the acronyms, RAWCS = Rotary Australia World Community Service, and ROMAC = Rotary Oceania Medical Aid for Children. GO to http://www.rawcs.com.au and http://www.romac.org.au for more info on these worthy organisations)
Team 3 consists of Dr Blanche Tsetong, who is in the process of moving back to the madness of Sydney from the glorious Sunshine Coast, and newcomer, Dr Linda Velosky, who has a practice in Redfern. This very small team will be heading to the hills in their second week in TL – to the town of Maubisse, much loved by the colonial Portuguese in the hot, dry months. While it basks in the sun in the morning, Maubisse is usually shrouded in thick cloud by midday, becoming a town of shadow and mist. Cold. V cold. Bring your Ugg boots girls!
This money contributes towards the salaries of local Timorese workers, dental materials and consumables, the purchase of new dental equipment, and the maintenance of used dental equipment, our vehicle and the fixed clinic in Maubara.
This year has been even pricier due to the need for a new vehicle ($25000). Now Team 2 reports that our 10 year old dental compressor, with a price tag of $3800, is on its last legs, having just survived its last repair.
SO THIS YEAR the program needs $43800 in total.
AT LAST COUNT THIS MEANS WE ARE $23620 SHORT OF OUR GOAL!
After another successful trip, Team 2 has returned unscathed to Oz, despite flight delays due to the Indonesian volcanic eruption, getting lost in Liquiça, and operational problems caused by a malfunctioning compressor – now on its last legs after a bush repair in Dili.
However, their return has been marred by grief and loss. Sadly, John Moran’s mother – Sam Moran’s grandmother – passed away shortly after their return. Our heartfelt condolences go out to them and to their family during this difficult time.
The Timor Leste Dental Program has just received another couple of generous donations.
The amount of funds raised now stands at $24730
I am humbled by the generosity of so many people, many of whom we have never met, but without whom this program could not survive. We are a small program and we are well aware of the lack of glamour and urgency associated with teeth, especially when compared with famine, war and natural disasters. Hence, on behalf of all Timorese people and the dedicated volunteers, I would like to offer my deepest thanks to all our supporters. Teeth may not be ‘sexy’ but – as many people have experienced firsthand – they have the ability to cause the most acute suffering. Your continued support directly contributes towards alleviation of suffering, increased health, and empowerment of the Timorese people. Thank you and thank you again.
Our second team to Timor Leste leaves today. Dr John Moran, Ms Sam Moran and newcomer, Dr Tony Hunt, all come from far flung Western Australia – too far to be thwarted by a little dust from Sangeang Api volcano in Indonesia!
Once the team touches down in TL, they will have to face other immediate challenges – the old Troopie is blowing hot air out of the air conditioner and has lost its roof racks for good, and they will have to relocate our dental compressor, which had to have a last minute repair in Dili…somewhere….
The team’s program has them in Maubara/Liquiça subdistricts for the first week and in a new location, Bazartete, during the second week. But who knows? Things change in an instant in TL. Good luck, Team!
Another successful trip. Locations attended: Maubara Clinic, Maubara High School, Ediri School, Lebotelo School, Railaco, Nasuta, Railaco Leten, Tocolulu
The team spent their first week in and around Maubara, the second around Railaco. This team consisted of dentists, Peter Shakes and David Digges, and Carolyn Digges, working as the team’s dental nurse, and two of our mentored Timorese dental therapists, Aida, who works in Liquiça and Maubara, and Tino, who is currently stationed in Gleno, as well as Louis, the driver who doubled as the sterilisation nurse. Sr Filomena coordinated the work around Maubara, whereas Fr Bong and Sr Rita coordinated in Railaco.
“Aida the extractor”
The Troopie was drivable this trip. Yaay! Nevertheless, as always, a number of small problems plagued the team. At Ediri School, the team almost expired from a heat that caused the generator to stall and the compressor to overheat and, even worse, the emergency fan to die! Small repairs and adjustments to our sometimes temperamental equipment were carried out by Peter; he also organised the repair of the Troopie’s flat tyre in Railaco – we love useful, mechanically minded volunteers!
Tino and Carolyn on fire
Tino and Aida, both hardworking, enthusiastic and capable clinicians, benefited greatly from working with two very experienced dentists. Peter was tireless in the support and training he gave during this visit. Like many before him, he noted that despite their impressive skills, lack of support from the Ministry of Health in terms of equipment, materials and facilities limits their capabilities to help the community. Aida and Sr Filomena had already screened 2/3 of the massive Maubara High School prior to this team’s visit and they plan to return to finish the screening in readiness for the next team visit.
Overall, the team carried out 310 examinations, 332 extractions, 135 fillings, 87 preventative treatments – a total of 886 treatments! Well done to you all, and thank you for all your hard work!
Our first fabulous team is off to Timor in 2 weeks! The team consists of regulars, Dr David Digges and Carolyn Digges, and we are pleased to welcome Dr Peter Shakes from South Australia, who will be joining a team for the first time! This team will be heading out to beautiful Railaco, in the foothills just to the west of Dili, and hosted by the super efficient team of Sister Rita and Father Bong.
Thank you to all our generous donors! We are well on the way to obtaining that all-important vehicle, which we need to help the people in Timor Leste’s isolated villages
Timor-Leste Dental Program 
