A new volunteering year begins on Saturday 21, with something new. Team 1 is taking along some friends. At least for the first week, the Timor Leste Dental Program team will be joined by representatives from the Bendigo Maubisse Friendship Association (BMFA) and Solar Smiles (SS), who hope to assist with improving the dental services in Maubisse. Retired anaesthetist, Dr George Waters, from the BMFA, and the founder of SS, Mrs Kim Groizard, will be journeying for the 2nd and 1st time respectively to TL – a recon trip for the both. Dr Phil Hill, who volunteered with the TLDP last year, has the unusual distinction of being a member of all 3 NGOs and the TLDP will be working him hard! The last two Australian members of this merry band are  team leader, Dr Blanche Tsetong, and returnee, Dr Mary Tiutiunnik. They will be joined in TL by dental therapist, Mr Nico Pires and translator, Miss Isabel Noronha Pereira De Lima Maia (Isa).

Week 1 will be spent in Maubisse subdistrict; clinical work in the community and the schools will be intermixed with meetings with heads of villages, the main hospital, and health posts, as well as meetings with other NGOs.

Once Kim and George return home, the TLDP will spend a more typical TLDP 2nd week of hard slog in the Maubara/Liquiça/Loes subdistricts. Full steam ahead!