Stones are all heart
Volume 11, No. 55, November 02, 2006
By Maj Graeme Henley

Father and son chat: AFP Chaplain Garry Stone and his son Maj Mick Stone, of the Australian Defence Co-Operation Program in Timor-Leste, get together at a beach in Dili. Photo by Cpl Bernard Pearson

A FATHER and son serving with Australian forces in Timor-Leste are evidence of the heart and soul going into efforts to help the troubled nation.

Gary Stone is a chaplain with the AFP and his son, Maj Mick Stone, is serving with the ADF’s Defence Cooperation Program (DCP).

“Dad and I consider it an honour to represent Australia in Timor-Leste, to do what we can to continue to forge strong relations with our close neighbours and help a people in need,” Maj Stone said.

“They endured great sacrifice for Australian soldiers in World War II, and it’s a privilege to be part of the team and country that has answered their plea.

“The Timorese continue to open their arms and hearts to Australian service personnel, police and citizens despite enduring hardship.”

The pair – “more like mates than father and son”, according to Chap Stone – are well acquainted with Timor-Leste and its people. Chap Stone – who served 26 years in the ARA infantry, reaching the rank of lieutenant colonel, and 11 years as an Army chaplain – was in the fledgling country with the ADF in 2000 when a group of priests convinced him to join the organisation Friends and Partners of East Timor. In 2004, Chap Stone, his wife, Lynne, and their son went to Timor-Leste with this organisation.

“We believe in this charity work and that we should love our neighbours as we love ourselves. It is a long road for the Timorese to establish themselves as a nation and we need to be committed to a partnership with them for a very long time,” he said.

Like his father, Maj Stone has a strong connection with Timor-Leste, including several deployments with 2RAR between December 1999 and January 2002.

In September 2004 he deployed with the DCP as an adviser to Falintil-Forsa Defesa Timor Leste (F-FDTL) – the Timor-Leste Defence Force – at Los Palos in the country’s east. In January this year he became the training adviser at the F-FDTL HQ.

Maj Stone believes that to be truly effective working with a foreign nation, one must embrace the country’s culture and appreciate its history.

“It is critical to learn their language and culture to develop rapport and trust,” he said. “Through knowledge of their history you can establish a foundation of understanding and empathy. This must be reinforced through direct relationships with the people.”

This belief led him to develop his Tetun language skills to the point of fluency. His knowledge has been put to good use since the ADF arrived in May. Maj Stone has been operating with JTF 631 as a liaison officer between the ADF, other security forces and the community, especially as a spokesman at major events, advocating peace, stability and conciliation.

His efforts were recognised by a CDF Commendation in September.

“I am proud of Michael,” his father said. “He is living his Christianity in a practical way, facilitating peace and reconciliation between disparate groups, representing the best qualities of an Australian soldier.”