Harii Hamutuk – Building together
7 November 2014
Timorese, Australian, and American forces share skills to develop Port Hera Naval Base and Hera Community Centre
Engineers from the Timor-Leste, Australian, and United States (U.S.) defence forces have worked together to build two new accommodation blocks at the Port Hera Naval Base and Hera community centre outside Timor-Leste’s capital, Dili.
The purpose of ‘Exercise Harii Hamutuk 14’ was to share construction skills and knowledge between the three nations while confirming the strong existing relationships already established through daily cooperation and engagement.
The exercise formally concluded today with a closing ceremony at the Port Hera Naval Base, attended by the Vice Chief of the Timorese Defence Force, Brigadier General Filomeno Da Paixáo de Jesus, Australian Embassy Chargé d’Affaires, Mr Toby Lendon and the U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Ms Katherine Duffy Dueholm.
Charge’ Dueholm said "The United States was pleased to participate in an exercise that exemplified the cooperative nature of the trilateral relationship and allowed all our forces to work together and learn from one another in ways which will strengthen our ongoing relationship." Mr Lendon said the exercise saw engagement between the three nations with tangible results. “Not only have the three nations shared skills and forged new links, the F-FDTL and Hera community now have new facilities to utilise into the future,” he said.
The exercise was led by the Australian Defence Cooperation Program (DCP) and required eight months planning. Over five weeks, the exercise involved 21 members of the Timorese Forsa Defeza Timor-Leste (F-FDTL), 20 Australian Defence Force personnel, 18 members of the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC), and 12 U.S. Navy “Seabees” from the Naval Mobile Construction Battalion.
Two accommodation blocks were built at the Port Hera Naval Base to accommodate the rapidly growing Naval Component of the F-FDTL while the Hera Community Centre received a much needed refurbishment. In addition, the near-by F-FDTL base at Metinaro also received minor improvements.
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Australian Embassy Chargé d’Affaires, Mr Toby Lendon delivered an address to the closing ceremony of Exercise Harii Hamutuk 14, between the Timor-Leste, Australian, and United States (U.S.) defence forces during October and November 2014. Photo Credit: DFAT |
Brigadier General, Filomeno da Paixão de Jesus, presented a traditional 'tais' cloth to an Australian defence force member at the closing ceremony of Exercise Harii Hamutuk 14 held during October and November 2014. Photo Credit: DFAT |
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Two new accomodation blocks were bulit at Port Hera Naval Base as part of Exercise Harii Hamutuk 14 between the Timor-Leste, Australian, and United States (U.S.) defence forces during October and November 2014. Photo Credit: DFAT |
The Community Centre in Hera village received a renovation as part of Exercise Harii Hamutuk 14 between the Timor-Leste, Australian, and United States (U.S.) defence forces during October and November 2014. Photo Credit: DFAT |
