<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>329418</docID> <postdate>2024-09-20 13:34:34</postdate> <headline>Always in our hearts: East Timor service commemorated</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 class="wire-column__preview__author"><span class="kicker-line">By <b>Tess Ikonomou and Andrew Brown</b> in Canberra</span></p> <p><strong>The nation has commemorated the Australians who served in  East Timor and helped bring peace to the region.</strong></p> <p>Australia was part of a group of countries to restore security after the Timorese took the step to vote for independence from Indonesia in 1999.</p> <p>A national service was held at the Australian Peacekeeping Memorial in Canberra on Friday to mark the 25th anniversary.</p> <p>Six Australians died during the operations between 1999 and 2013.</p> <p>More than 18,000 Australian troops served in East Timor.</p> <p>Chelsea Atkinson paid tribute to her brother Craftsman Beau Pridue, who died during his deployment.</p> <p>"You are forever our hero. You live on in our thoughts," she told the service.</p> <p>"You are always in our hearts for your service. We love you and we thank you."</p> <p>Army veteran Emily Ellis deployed to East Timor in 2011 as part of the International Stabilisation Force.</p> <p>She was deployed with Craftsman Pridue and said the ceremony was a special way to honour the service and sacrifices that were made.</p> <p>"It was quite a humbling experience to be put into that environment, to be working with a lot of children," she said.</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 the 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 nation. East Timor had never been a country in their own right before," he told AAP.</p> <p>Mr Pascoe-Bell,who marked the anniversary with a service at Darwin's cenotaph, said he would attend a dinner with other 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 Australians were rightly proud of the role the nation played in the birth of the fledgling nation.</p> <p>"Even as we celebrate the bonds between our personnel and the resilient Timorese, we must also recognise that it came at a price," he said.</p> <p>"We solemnly acknowledge the profound and enduring injuries, both physical and mental, worn by many who serve.</p> <p>"We pay our respects to the families and the loved ones of those who served."</p> <p>During the service, large screens showed photos of Australians in East Timor, often surrounded by children.</p> <p>The images documented different aspects of the peacekeeping missions, including delivering supplies to families, and providing life-saving healthcare for civilians.</p> <p>Reflecting on the role the nation plays in stabilising the Indo-Pacific, Timorese official Sonia Maia said she wouldn't be standing on Australian soil had it not been for its involvement.</p> <p>She said Australia and East Timor were bound together.</p> <p>"For our people, this is a milestone," Ms Maia said.</p> <p>"We are always counting on Australian support, because we are just a new nation ... we (will) continue strengthening our relationship in every area."</p> </body>