<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>329418</docID> <postdate>2024-09-20 07:25:34</postdate> <headline>Australia marks 25th anniversary of East Timor service</headline> <body><p><img class="size-full wp-image-329420" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20000503000018649513-original-resized.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="591" /></p> <caption>More than 18,000 Australians served in peace keeping operations in East Timor. (Dean Lewins/AAP PHOTOS)</caption> <p><span class="kicker-line">By <strong>Andrew Brown</strong> and <strong>Tess Ikonomou</strong> in Canberra</span></p> <p><strong>The nation is set to mark 25 years since Australian troops were deployed to East Timor, commemorating a proud tradition of international peacekeeping.</strong></p> <p>Australia helped bring peace and security to the fledgling country after the Timorese took the step to vote for independence from Indonesia in 1999.</p> <p>A national commemorative service will be held at the Australian Peacekeeping Memorial in Canberra on Friday.</p> <p>Six Australians died during the operations between 1999 and 2013.</p> <p>More than 18,000 Australians served in East Timor.</p> <p>About 5500 defence force personnel were sent as part of the International Force East Timor (INTERFET) - the largest deployment of Australian troops since the Vietnam War.</p> <p>Among those was Shane Pascoe-Bell, who was a radio operator in a parachute infantry unit.</p> <p>He said the significance of the operation became clearer with passing years.</p> <p>"The big thing that I didn't realise at the time was that (the peacekeeping efforts) was the start of a new country and the birth of a new new nation. East Timor had never been a country in their own right before," he told AAP.</p> <p>Mr Pascoe-Bell will mark the anniversary with a service at Darwin's cenotaph, before attending a dinner for Australian veterans.</p> <p>"In Darwin we have a large Timorese population, and when I identify where I served, there's a lot of affection that pours out," he said.</p> <p>"You don't realise how big an impact you've made on them."</p> <p>Veterans' Affairs Minister Matt Keogh said the nation acknowledged all Australians who participated in peacekeeping missions.</p> <p>"We pay tribute to the six Australians who tragically lost their lives while deployed, or as a result of their service," he said.</p> <p>"We also recognise the remarkable resilience of the Timorese people and the enduring friendship between our two nations.</p> <p>"We are grateful to the many Australians who served in Timor-Leste who have regularly returned over these 25 years, strengthening the bonds and productivity of local communities."</p> </body>