Travels in Timor

By Ms Tracey Markovic, Assistant Head of Junior School Operations

Since 2009, Radford College has maintained a strong and evolving relationship with Timor-Leste, sending student delegations each year to engage in a unique and transformative experience.

Each year, a group of dedicated students nominate themselves for the opportunity to travel with staff as part of a journey that builds upon the work and connections of those who have gone before. This is not merely a trip, it is a deeply meaningful commitment that begins long before departure.

Last month a delegation of 20 students and four staff members embarked on this meaningful two-week journey. While the visit itself was only for a short period of time, the connections made, and lessons learned are lasting. Relationships with communities in Timor have deepened year by year, creating a legacy of shared learning, mutual respect, and enduring friendship.

‘Never to. Not for. But with’ has always been the underlying focus of the trip. We do not go to Timor to ‘do’ anything but rather to be ‘with’ the people of Timor. We go to learn from the Timorese.

By spending time in schools, attending church, meeting communities to play soccer, and visiting local museums, students were able to learn more about one of Australia's closest neighbours. Although Timor-Leste is geographically one of Australia’s nearest neighbours, it remains in many ways a world apart. This contrast offers students a powerful opportunity to grow in understanding, compassion, and global awareness.

In the six months leading up to the visit, students and staff met regularly, engaging in learning sessions, cultural education, and personal reflection, all designed to prepare them for the trip.

Throughout the preparation process and during the time spent in Timor-Leste, the group worked together to learn about the country’s rich history, diverse communities, and cultural expectations. These insights help shape a more respectful and impactful exchange, where relationships are nurtured with care and humility.

Old Friends – By Eva and Daniel

During our time in Ataúro we had a visitor come to Barry’s Place to tell us his inspiring story. Mario – also known as Super Mario – shared his experiences from childhood and hopes for the future.

Mario was born in Adara – a village on the other side of the island. Every day he would walk three and a half hours just to get to school and would then have to walk another three and a half hours to get back home. This journey was not an easy one it was a steep and rocky path leading up and down the mountain.

Mario wanted to study and go to university, but his father wanted him to stay home and work. Mario was committed to his dream of further education and through hard work and support from the community, he was able to study marine biology in Indonesia.

After the course, he came back to Ataúro and worked at Barry’s place. He raised money, and built his own resort, Mario’s Place, in his village. He also built a house next to Barry’s Place, so students walking to school from Adara can spend the night there. He is now trying to get a school built in Adara.

Mario’s story was incredibly interesting to hear. His hard work, resilience and hope for the future is truly inspiring.

His dream is for his son, Henrique, to study in Australia. "I want my son to close the gap. It is my dream."

Soccer is universal – By Astrid and Odele

Shortly after arriving in Ataura, we were told that we'd have the chance to play in a community soccer match and we jumped at the opportunity.

We quickly got ready and hopped on our transport – an angguna (a truck carrying passengers and other belongings on the back). The road was quite bumpy, but we hardly noticed because we were filled with excitement for our match against a Timorese team.

It was an extraordinary afternoon. It was very hot, but the game was fun, and everyone had a smile on their face. Even though we were on different teams, it felt like we made a strong connection with each other, bonding over our shared enjoyment of the game.

Opportunities – Kaiya and Olivia

Opportunities arise in small situations,
A simple chat, a trip away.
To be able to take the opportunities,
One must be willing to explore.
Explore the possibility of the present,
While staying away from the future.
One must not regret what should’ve happened,
and see the possibility of what could happen,
and one must never let the pressure of expectations,
stop opportunity from being taken.

Meeting the President

Seeing the President of Timor-Leste, José Manuel Ramos-Horta, casually driving through the streets of Dili in his iconic blue Mini Moke may be a familiar sight to locals, but for us it was an unexpected and thrilling moment. The Nobel Peace prize laureate recognised us as we walked to dinner one evening after meeting our group just a few days earlier at Kantina Matak.

Without hesitation, President Ramos-Horta slowed his car and, spotting a few familiar faces among our students, stopped in the middle of the road to greet us. With his warmth and approachability, he enquired how our trip was going. Road traffic slowed down around us, but it didn’t matter—President Ramos-Horta took the moment to share another one of his engaging stories with our group, leaving a lasting impression on students and staff alike.

If you are interested to read more about our travels, please feel free to have a look at the Timor Travels 2025 Blog written by our students.