Our Volunteers

Dr Kim Hartley, NSW – first joined a team in 2019. Her favourite things were seeing the kids playing with old tyres and the crazy Timorese roads.

Dr Tony Slater, NSW – Tony has been on three teams. His height makes him the designated light bulb changer for the sisters when he is in TL

Dr Mengzhu Wang, QLD – a regular volunteer in PNG, Meng joined a team in 2017. She called it ‘getting back to real dentistry’

Ms Samantha Moran, WA – Sam joined the program for the first time in 2013. She enjoys practising her Bahasa Indonesia with the Timorese, which has proved a boon to the team. She loves exploring the world, both above and below sea level.

Dr Tony Hunt, WA – Tony first joined a team to TL in 2014

Miss Laura Laycock, WA – a bubbly and energetic dental assistant joined a team in June 2015 after moving to Australia from the UK. She has volunteered in Romania and Burma but wanted to explore and meet the locals of Australia’s closest neighbour. Laura particularly enjoyed the bucket shower experience and loved greeting all the beautiful children with a big smile every morning

Dr Hans Raets – joined a team in 2005. He was popular with the kids in Maubara, playing basketball with them in the afternoons

Dr Charmaine White, NSW – first joined a team in 2015.

Dr Phil Derrimal, Vic – joined a team in 2017. He is the dental representative for the Bendigo-Maubisse Friendship Group, which is aiming to improve dental services in the Maubisse area.

Dr Sandra Meihubers, NSW – Sandra co-founded the Timor L’este Dental Program and has been leading dental teams in Timor L’este since 2003. She has developed other dental programs in remote Australia, Nepal, and most recently, Bangladesh, necessitating quite a nomadic lifestyle.

Mrs Eve Shepherd, QLD – Eve joined a team in 2016. Eve is apparently a very difficult for the Timorese to pronounce, and so she quickly became ‘Mana Eva’, ‘Mana’ means sister in tetum. Eve a non-vegie eating person in Oz developed a love for vegies in TL!

Miss Katie Kennedy, NSW

Dr Karen Sloan, NSW – Karen first joined a dental team in 2010. She has been in 3 dental teams to Timor L’este and has developed a fondness for homemade Timorese chilli sauce (ai-manas). Gamely giving anything a try, she discovered that she is a lot less fond of betel nut.

Ms Abbey Notley, Qld, joined one of our teams for the first time in 2017. She loved the people in TL. Abbey is a dietitian but was an excellent dental assistant to the team

Dr Andrew Frame, NSW – joined a team in 2017. Having done multiple stints in the NT, Andrew is a marvellous teacher and mentor

Ms Breanna Martin, NT – A local Darwinian dental assistant, Bree joined a team in 2014. She soon proved to be a handy bush mechanic, managing to repair recalcitrant equipment on the fly!

Dr Linda Veloskey, NSW- joined a team in 2014. A foodie, she gives Timorese cooking a big thumbs up. She found a cup of cafe Timor, mid-morning, to be especially restorative

Dr Martin Ramlah, NSW – joined a team in 2019. He says that he will definitely be back!

Miss Bella Miller, WA – originally from the UK, Bella’s life is guided by her Grandfather’s advice to “do whatever makes you happy, but always be useful.” She considers her first trip to TL as one of her first steps along the path to making the world a kinder place. She was a dental assistant but is about to graduate as a registered nurse. She enjoyed spending time with the Timorese people – “the embodiment of a simple and joyful life in the face of hardship”, and thought the food was AMAZING!

Mr Alex Sheen, NSW – Alex joined his first dental team to Timor L’este in 2013. He was considered the ‘go to’ person by his team.

Dr Wayne Pearson, NSW – Wayne joined the program in 2008. He has served in 6 dental teams in Timor L’este. Wayne is also a farmer, and the timing of his team’s trips have sometimes proved troublesome, often coinciding with seasonal flooding of his property. Wayne’s mechanical savvy has proven indispensable to his teams. For Wayne, a cold beer and pistachios are essential for the end of a perfect day in Timor.

Ms Anneli Knight, Vic – joined a team for the first time in 2014. A successful journalist she proved equally talented at keeping up a steady stream of sterilised instruments for the busy Sept team

Mr Graham Morphett – Graham has been involved with our program since its inception and is our Rotary Program Manager. Unflappable, he handles all our hurdles with grace and goodwill.

Dr Jordan Kolsky, NT – joined his first team in 2019. He said that it was a trip that melded his passion for travel and dentistry, and he found it greatly fulfilling

Ms Aisling Digges, NSW – Aisling joined a team for the first time in 2013. As a vet, she found assisting the dentists on the team an easy task. She enjoys surfing and camping.

Dr Jeremy Lung, Vic – joined his first team in 2019. He thought it was a trip of great value to the local community, both patients and dental therapists, and was continually impressed by the positive can-do attitudes of the Timorese people

Mrs Carolyn Digges, NSW – Carolyn has joined 4 trips to TL and has enjoyed working with the Carmelites and the Jesuits. A busy mom of 3 she enjoys yoga, swimming, hiking, tennis and travelling.

Teresa Souto, Portugal – Teresa was studying dentistry when she volunteered with us. She taught us the value of eating papaya seeds.

Dr James Digges, NSW – James has joined 3 of our dental teams since 2011. He is a keen golfer(no golf courses in TL)

Mrs Kerrie Wallin, NSW – Kerrie’s first joined a team in 2013.

Dr Barry Turner, NSW – has made numerous trips to TL with the program

Dr Geoff Knight, Vic – Geoff first joined a team in 2013. That lucky team was delighted to receive what was effectively a 10 day seminar on Silver Fluoride. This technique is now being used by all teams.

Ms Melanie Ware, NSW – Mel joined the program in 2008 and participated in 3 teams. Bubbly and hardworking, she contributed to the program’s infection control protocols. The locals call her Melaneeay. She is getting married in Nov.

Ms Liz Hensley

Ms Jane Ruston, NSW – Jane’s first trip with the program was in 2007. The country and the people ‘got under her skin’ and she joined 3 more teams from 2008-2010. Having no-dental background, Jane quickly learned to assist 2 dentists. She found that giving dental hygiene education to the kids was one rewarding aspect of the work.

Dr Tony Collins, NSW

Mr John Darby, NSW – our first volunteer prosthetist, John joined a team in 2018 and proved that men can sterilize just as well as the women!

Dr William Hariman, NSW – joined the TLDP in 2019. He cites the food and the scenery as the standouts during his first trip. He found that the work was interesting and rewarding and put things ‘perspective’

Dr David Digges, NSW – David first joined the program in 2006 and has served on 8 teams. David enjoys working with the Carmelites to help the Timorese people because he feels that he is doing something worthwhile and appreciated. He has an affinity with kids and enjoys surfing and the outdoors. His most potent memory of Timor is breaking the Troopie’s axle in the middle of nowhere.

Dr Michael Eather, NSW

Dr Andy Moran, NSW

Dr Evelyne Cheng, NT – a medical doctor, joined a team in 2019. She happily and skilfully melded together the jobs of dental assistant, sterilisation nurse and medical advisor. She loved Atauro..especially the coconuts!

Dr Yvonne Huijser Von Reenen, NT – originally hailing from the Netherlands, but now a Darwin local, Yvonne first joined a team in 2014.

Dr Neil Lanceley and Dr Denise Salvestro, NT/NSW – With a passion for indigenous health, Denise and Neil have worked for many years in Arnhem Land in remote NT. Denise is also involved with the Buku-Larrngay Mulka Art Centre, in Yirrkala, East Arnhem Land, which seeks to provide space in which Yolngu cultural knowledge can be articulated, sustained and protected. They joined their first team in 2016.

Vicki McGahey, NSW

Ms Liz Shaw, NSW

Dr Blanche Tsetong, QLD – Blanche joined the program in 2007. She has been on 8 dental teams to Timor L’este, and is the current program coordinator. Blanche is happiest in water and so the afternoon swim in Maubara is her favourite part of the day. She is a keen surfer, traveller and nature-lover.

Mimi Chungue, a Timorese national, left TL as a child to live in Portugal and Australia. She has returned to TL to help build capacity in business and management. She works closely with the first lady and has helped our program with language interpretation and exposure. She’s a busy lady!

Ms Madeleine Digges, NSW – Madeleine first joined a team in 2011 and has been on 2 teams. Working as a dental assistant was a change from her usual pharmaceutical work. She enjoyed working with the kids at the orphanage and enjoys traveling

Dr Chris Kennedy, NSW

Dr John Whyte, WA – John joined a team in June 2015

Dr Henry Gilkes, SA – first joined a team in 2018.

Mr Keith Mentiplay, NSW – Keith provided and installed much of the specialised, portable equipment we use in the field. He continues to give vital support for the program by way of technical advice, parts and servicing. He is passionate about vintage toys and machinery.

Dr David Sheen, NSW – David co-founded the Timor L’este Dental Program and continues to lead teams despite heavy family commitments. He recently received an OAM for foundational work in dental programs in PNG and Eritrea. His favourite bits of Timor are working with the Carmelite sisters who always make life fun, and his swims in the morning and the afternoon which make any hardship faced fade into insignificance.

Mrs Liz Erbl, NSW – A registered nurse, Liz first brought her clinical skills and excellent company to TL in 2015.

Ms Sally Stephens, Vic – A Dili resident for almost 2 years, Sally has had the opportunity to develop a unique perspective about the program – she joined three teams in 2015! A mother of 3 kids, with a love for life and a wicked sense of humour, she thoroughly enjoyed the adventure of exploring roads less travelled.

Ms Timea Butler, NSW – Timea joined a team in 2010. She personally experienced how expensive it is to Facebook overseas, racking up $1000 bill before being cut off by the mobile phone company. She is currently enjoying working as an au pair in France.

Dr Stephanie Shields, NT – Steph joined her first team in 2018.

Dr Marius Mocke, QLD – joined his first team in Sept 2017. Marius loved the traditional Timorese food and was entranced by the local farming methods.

Ms Malita McCabe, SA – joined a team in 2017. Incredibly efficient, she was the team’s super organiser and kept them on their toes

Dr Gordon Saggers, NSW – hailing from country NSW, Gordon has joined a dental team several times. aka Cowboy, he is good friends with Father Bong and Dr Andy Moran

Dr John Moran, WA – John joined his first dental team in 2013. He loves to taste exotic foods and so he was always excited to see what culinary delights were produced by the Sisters each night.

Dr Ashley Freeman, NT – Ashley joined a team for the first time in 2016. He really enjoyed the people and sampling the luscious Timorese coffee. He is now thinking of training for the Dili Marathon.