Our People in WA
Sapper Michael Powell - DUMBLEYUNG (WA) SOLDIER PLAYS PART IN TIMOR PEACE
These days Michael, a former student of the Katanning Senior High School , is a Sapper (Army Engineer) with the 3 rd Combat Engineer Regiment , normally based in Townsville. In his role as an Army engineer, Michael provides immediate engineering and construction support to the troops.
These tasks can include construction of small buildings, facilities and basically anything that makes the job of the soldiers easier.
The Aussie Army engineers have also been providing a lot of assistance to local Timorese in and effort to help them improve their quality of life.
"We've been doing a lot of community works, like building a small soccer stadium in one village, fixing bridges and generally trying to help the villagers help themselves," Michael said.
This is Michael's first deployment to Timor-Leste and he is making the most of the opportunity. In the process, he's been developing a talent for the local language - Tetum.
"It's really good to be able to speak a bit of the language - you get a lot of respect for it (from the locals)," he said
Michael said one of the things he likes most about being in Timor Leste is the scenery in the farming communities, because he himself is from the land in Western Australia.
Recently Michael was involved in some patrols to some of the more isolated areas of the country. These patrols involved a busier than usual amount of International Stabilisation Force activity in the area as the troops visited a number of villages to spread their message of peace and stability.
The troops were supported by their colleagues from the United Nations Police (UNPOL).
For the International Stabilisation Force soldiers, it was a good opportunity to interact with members of the Timor Leste population.
It was also an opportunity to take some time out and remember their days as children by showing dozens of local children how to play with the famous "yo yo".
Michael is one of about 1100 Australian Defence Force personnel currently serving in East Timor as part of Operation Astute, the Australian Government response to the Timorese Government request for assistance in restoring peace to their country.
The Australians, as part of the International Stabilisation Force, are assisting the Government of Timor-Leste and the United Nations Police to provide a secure environment in which the country can conduct its first independent presidential and parliamentary elections since independence.