Our People in VIC
Dan and Luke Gosling - East Timor honours for Melbourne brothers
Personal and professional commitment to the development of East Timor was recently rewarded when North Balwyn men Dan and Luke Gosling were awarded the Timor-Leste Medal of Merit.
The award recognised the brothers’ professional services to East Timor as military officers over a number of deployments, but also took account of their work at a more personal level.
It was Dan’s initial deployment as a Platoon Commander with 3 RAR during 1999 that ignited his passion for East Timor, when he and his platoon were looked after by a woman called Meningas after she returned to her burned out house in Dili that had been their temporary home.
“Maningas returned to her house in Becora after fleeing from the militia violence that claimed many of her family and friends.
“Although she was now caring for seven or eight children, only some of whom were her own, she asked us to stay and wanted to look after us, even after the pain she had gone through,” Dan said.
This was the beginning of a 10 year relationship with the country for Dan who has since learnt the Timorese language Tetun and Portuguese, and returned to East Timor with the Defence Co-operation Program as an Infantry Command Advisor supporting indigenous capacity building with the East Timorese Defence Force.
In an unofficial capacity, Dan and Luke organised major events such as the Timor Challenge and Timor Gathering, raising money to support nation building initiatives and to promote awareness of East Timor.
“As close neighbours sharing a common border, and a military history that traces back to WW2 when many Timorese supported our Independent Commando Companies during combat operations in Timor, I believe Australia and East Timor should continue to work closely together to support our future security and prosperity in the region,” said Dan.
The brothers also combined expertise to make the film Debt of Honour, which highlighted the role of the East Timorese creados in helping Australian soldiers during World War II.
“I was the 2IC of C Coy serving in 3RAR during 2002, and we spent a few weeks with the film crew as part of the production,” said Dan.
In his presentation, East Timor President Dr Jose Ramos Horta paid tribute to the whole Gosling family.
“The parents, the brothers, the whole family have supported the development of East Timor, and for that, we thank them,” he said.
Luke and Dan’s father John, a Vietnam Veteran who served with 6 RAR, was in East Timor recently and commemorated Vietnam Veterans Day with a climb up Mt Matabean to hold a dawn service with ISF and F-FDTL soldiers. He is the president of the East Timor based charity ‘Life Love and Health’ that was initially set up by Dan and Luke with a focus on maternal health and water and sanitation projects.
Dan is currently on his fifth deployment to East Timor with the 2 RAR (ANZAC) Timor-Leste Battle Group VI, and will remain for another year on a posting to the Defence Cooperation Program.
“The ADF has been committed to supporting the security and development in East Timor for the last10 years, and it’s great to be here today and to acknowledge the progress the Timorese people have made in such a short period of time” he said.
The awards ceremony was part of the celebrations for the 10th Anniversary of Popular Consultation, and was also attended by the Governor General, Her Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce AC.
General (Ret) Peter Cosgrove was awarded the Collar of Order of East Timor during the ceremony, and the last remaining criados, Mr Rufino Silva, was also recognised for his contribution to the country.