Tricia says thanks
August 7, 2000
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Never-the-less, she acknowledges that much of the humanitarian aid work she has completed since December would not have been possible but for the RAN and the other armed services.
"I am so proud of our forces. When I needed to get goods to Dili, there was the Navy, when I needed to transport the items the Army supplied me with trucks…and when I was very ill the RAAF flew me to Darwin."
Tricia told her story to Navy News as she emptied her Elizabeth Bay flat and moved to Dili on a semi-permanent basis.
The 40 something mother of a 20-year-old daughter has given up a successful career selling computers and real estate to help the East Timorese recover from last year's militia rampages.
Asked how she became involved Tricia said: " Last year I heard a group of East Timorese women living in Australia were frustrated they could not help those on the island.
"They began a hunger strike outside the UN building in Sydney.
"I found them and we soon became friends.
"In December I decided I would like to help by actually being on the ground in East Timor.
"I bought a return ticket and planned to spend 10 days there. I spent nearly six months and I am only back for five days to end my lease and move my furniture north," she explained.
Since her arrival in December Tricia has used her "sales skills" to organise and obtain vital humanitarian aid for the East Timorese.
She has had some outstanding successes.
Working with the Carmelite nuns she has leased a building in Maubara, 45 minutes outside Dili and seen an orphanage razed last year, recommence operation.
"There are now 30 youngsters at the orphanage ranging in age from six weeks to 16 years.
"Two of the babies have TB.
"One boy, 'Jimmy' is about 12.
"I first saw him in the nun's home. He was very traumatised by what he had seen.
"He trusted no-one. He was almost a recluse.
"He is showing slow progress but remains close to the nuns. He will be one of the first people I will see when I return."
Tricia's call for help in Australia was quickly answered with HMAS MANOORA taking a donated station wagon to Dili for use by the orphanage staff.
HMAS TOBRUK went north with a large plastic reservoir lashed to her deck and also destined for the orphanage.
"It will be used for washing…and perhaps drinking. A man from Tennant Creek has donated a special filter which will get 99.9 per cent of the bugs out of the water," she said.
"Meanwhile, we have a new block of ground and are planning a larger orphanage with an attached school."
"At Comoro we have another project…to build a school for English language and computer studies.
"Unless we have this facility the 12 to 35- year-olds who roam the area will still have nothing to do an will turn to crime.
"The foundations have already been laid and bricks bought.
"A team of Rotarians from Melbourne will arrive to help.
"I have also been getting help from the Lions," she added.
Tricia's dedication to her work in East Timor has been at substantial personal cost.
She admits she is "broke" and has used up the last of her frequent flyer points.
She was taken ill in East Timor and had to be repatriated to Darwin by the RAAF for vital treatment.
She is no longer involved in well paid selling.
However, she would not change anything and was indeed eager to get back to her friends in East Timor.
As an aside she said that many East Timorese suffer respiratory ailments caused by the amount of smoke in the atmosphere.
"Cooking is done on open wood fires and rubbish, including plastics, are burnt.
"There is no real rubbish collection service.
"As a result much of the bush is disappearing because the people need wood for their cooking fires," she said.
In recent days HMAS JERVIS BAY delivered 200 tonnes of humanitarian aid to Dili.
Notices declaring "For Tricia Johns" were on dozens of the pallets and packages, a clear indication that Australians are in full support of her.
By Graham
Davis
Picture: LSPH Kevin Bristow.