Standing in the Gap
2016
linocut on cotton rag and handmade paper, ink on found paper, collage,
5.1 surround sound audio: 1 minute
I approached six Timorese and six Australian women to tell their stories – women who had stood in the gap for Timor-Leste over decades by putting themselves in the middle of Timor’s very broken, messy, human need; into the gap that separates Australia and post-conflict Timor-Leste. In 2016, the biggest shadow over Timor-Leste's future was an ongoing dispute with the Australian Government over oil and gas in the Timor Sea, deposits that, under international law, belonged to Timor-Leste. The sound file records the thoughts and feeling of these women concerning Australia's refusal to sit down and negotiate.
Each interview was archived in the Library of Congress through Storycorp
To hear the full length interview, click on each woman's name.
Juavita Pereira Faria grew up in occupied East Timor. She recently graduated in Law and eventually wants to lead her people as a judge. She lives in Dili, Timor-Leste.
Catharina Williams Van Klinken is a Dutch born Australian and Tetun language specialist. She is the Director of the Centre of Language Studies at The Dili Institute of Technology and has lived in Dili since 2002. Her work of thirty years, translating the Bible into Tetun, is going into publication.
Dr Kirsty Sword Gusmao, AO wasTimor-Leste’s first First Lady. She is a mother to three sons and ‘Mana’ to a Nation. She has carried the title of Goodwill Ambassador to Education and ‘Ruby Blade’- human rights activist. She founded the Aloha Foundation and survived cancer. In 2015 she received The Order of Australia for her work in Timor-Leste. She now lives in Melbourne, Australia.
Kim McGrath has a legal background and, for many years, has provided policy and strategic advice to the Government of Timor-Leste and the Government of Victoria. She is completing her PhD on ‘Energy Diplomacy and the Timor Sea’ and has recently published a the book on the subject called "Crossing the Line". She lives in Melbourne, Australia.
Judit Ribeiro da Conceicao founded the domestic violence shelter, FOKUPERS in response to the needs of rape victims, political prisoners, widows and the widows of massacres. Her work continues today, challenging and changing laws and attitudes that relate to gender-based violence. She lives in Dili, Timor-Leste.
Grace Pitanuki works with Casa Vida, a shelter for young children who are victims of sexual abuse – particularly incest. As a translator, also worked in the operating theatre of the Dili hospital, translating for UN doctors, staff and patients during the transitional years. She lives in Dili, Timor-Leste.
Nandy Gurr regularly takes Australians to Timor-Leste, scoping for projects that need financial support. She is a friend to all of the women in this work and is committed to building networks and relationships between both countries. She lives in Melbourne, Australia.
Acy Lodja is Indonesian and came to Timor-Leste in 2002 to pastor a church. She now has an East Timorese husband and two small children. In her many roles, Acy is constantly working towards healing and reconciliation in her community. She lives in Dili, Timor-Leste.
Helen Kenneally is the daughter of Paddy Kenneally, a veteran of WWII who was very vocal in his support of East Timor particularly after 1975. With a background in Education, she has been a policy advisor to Timor-Leste’s Mother Tongue Program and is currently completing her Masters in Public Policy. She lives in Canberra, Australia.
Maria (Ti Ti) da Costa grew up in the impoverished rural districts of Timor-Leste during the Occupation and is now Nanny to two adopted East Timorese girls whose Australian mother works in Dili, Timor-Leste. She has three grown children of her own.
Christine Perkins currently sits on the Board of the Aloha Foundation. Over many decades, she has championed Timor-Leste’s right to self - determination as activist, development worker and capacity building project manager. She lives in Melbourne, Australia.
Betti Exposto is the Chief Executive of the Maritime Boundary Office in Dili. She grew up in Melbourne, became a Timorese Youth Ambassador to the UN at age 17 and returned to Dili after Timor-Leste’s Independence to take up multiple positions in Xanana Gusmao’s Government. She lives in Dili, Timor-Leste.