Historical Overview
In 2009, Mount Alexander Shire entered into a ten-year Friendship Relationship Agreement with the sub-district of Lolotoe, Timor Leste. This Agreement honours the values and principles of the Victorian Local Governance Association's (VLGA) guidelines for Australia Timor Leste Friendship Relationships.
In a climate of friendship, and based on mutual support and respect for each other's culture, the Friends of Lolotoe undertakes to support the Lolotoe community to re-build their local democracy through sustainable projects identified by their community in education, health and agriculture and to foster opportunites for cultural exchange.
Friends of Lolotoe is associated with an Incorporated Association and is associated with the VLGA Australia Timor Leste Friendship Groups and the Australia Timor Leste Friendship Network. Australia Timor Leste Friendship Conferences held in Timor Leste strengthen these relationships.
Sub-District of Lolotoe
Lolotoe is a sub-district of Bobonaro, a mountainous region located approximately 180kms south-west from the capital, Dili. The population of 8,000 rely on subsistence farming - coffee, maize, tapioca, vegetables and fruit - for their livelihood. The climate is monsoonal - with August to November being the dry season. Languages include Tetum, Portuguese, Indonesian, the local dialect Bunak, and English. The main community of Opa provides primary and secondary school (Yrs 7-9) education, kindergarten, community library, a small hospital and maternal health clinic, local police and public administration, three retail shops and two home-stay accommodation places. Electricity (generator) operates from 6.15pm - midnight daily. These facilities have to stretch across six other communities.
Friendship Agreement
Click on the hyperlink to see a copy of the Friendship Agreement.
Annual Report 2012/2013
Click on the hyperlink to see a copy of the Friends of Lolotoe Annual Report 2012/2013.