Media Room: Media Releases
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Defence |
| 30/06/2004 | MSPA 125/04 |
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ADF troops continue to support East Timor Australia’s continued commitment to East Timor has achieved a major milestone with the graduation of the latest class of East Timor military personnel from the Australian Defence Cooperation Program (DCP) sponsored intensive English training course. The 10 East Timor Defence Force (ETDF) personnel graduated from the intensive 16-month course late last week (Friday 24 June). The importance of the event was underscored by the attendance at the graduation ceremony of some of the nation’s senior leaders, including the Secretary of State for Defence, Mr Roque Rodrigues and the Chief of the East Timorese Defence Force (CDF), Brigadier General Taur Matan Ruak. Displaying proficiency and confidence in their newly acquired language, the graduates broke with tradition and conducted the ceremony in English and translated speeches into their native language, Tetun, for the audience. The graduates also performed a range of traditional East Timorese songs as well as Waltzing Matilda in recognition of Australia’s ongoing support. "The course was a demanding one with the graduates having learnt the equivalent of three to four years of education in just 16 months," the Australian senior instructor and course co-ordinator, Lieutenant Commander Stuart Abson said. East Timorese CDF, Brigadier General Taur Matan Ruak, said the graduates of the course should be proud of their outstanding achievement. He paid tribute to the dedication and commitment of the soldiers before reminding them of the importance of using their new skills for the future development of the ETDF and East Timor. The DCP has now been working with the ETDF since 2001 producing a number of key milestones including the building of training facilities like the English Learning Training Centre where the recent graduates conducted their training. The DCP has 27 Defence personnel providing specialist support to the ETDF. Images of the graduation ceremony can be accessed from Defence’s online media centre at www.defence.gov.au Media contact: Defence Media Liaison 02 6265 3343 or 0408 498 664 |
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Issued
by Ministerial Support and Public Affairs,
Department of Defence,
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