2000

12th December 2000
Local Sister Honoured for Humanitarian Service
Local Sister of St Joseph, Carmel Hanson, has been awarded a medal for her humanitarian service to the people of East Timor. Carmel is one of fourteen Caritas Australia volunteers honoured for her service to the people of East Timor amidst intensely difficult and dangerous conditions during 1999.

The Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal (HOSM), which has been approved by Governor General Sir William Deane, is a service award to recognise members of specific Australian groups who have been exposed to risk or danger when providing significant humanitarian aid to civilians overseas.

By April-May, 1999 Caritas Australia - the Catholic Church's agency for overseas aid and development - responded to requests from the East Timorese by sending volunteers to be witnesses to their plight, as well as to provide direct assistance in health clinics and with Caritas East Timor's emergency program. The East Timorese felt that the presence of international volunteers would provide a counter to their sense of isolation and despair at the violent events unfolding around them.

The fourteen recipients of the Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal - comprising eight religious sisters, three priests and three laywomen - went to East Timor between May and July 1999 to participate in Caritas Australia's East Timor Solidarity Program.

Some were in the thick of militia attacks and helped prevent violence simply by their presence; others helped in the areas of health, counselling and administrative assistance. All were highly regarded and welcomed by the Timorese people. All the Caritas volunteers survived their time in East Timor, despite this being a period of constant intimidation and violence.

Carmel Hanson, who first visited East Timor in 1994, says that Caritas Australia is to be commended for its Solidarity Program.

"The other recipients and I are still actively involved in the lives of the people of East Timor. I will be returning in February to work with the people on anger management and reconciliation. The East Timorese have experienced such grave and profound injustice. I will work with them to give them some skills and strategies in dealing with their anger".

Carmel has also been instrumental in the establishment of a scholarship enabling two East Timorese young women to come to study at the University of Newcastle next year. The scholarship is jointly provided by the Federation of the Sisters of St Joseph, Newcastle Christians for Peace and the University of Newcastle.

Bishop Michael Malone will present Carmel with her medal tomorrow afternoon at about 3.15pm, at the end of year Mass for the staff of the Catholic Diocesan Centre. The presentation will take place in the Toohey Room, Bishop Clarke House, 841 Hunter Street, Newcastle West.

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