Friday 10 May, 7-10pmVenue: Clonard College, Herne Hill. Our Trivia Night celebrates the ongoing friendship between Geelong and Viqueque in Timor-Leste, and is our major fundraiser to support education in Viqueque. Once again, professional quiz masters Mick and Erin will lead the fun and the trivia. Tickets are still available and we hope to see … Continue reading Trivia Night
Cash in your ‘Cans for Scholarships’ in Timor-Leste
We are dedicating the month of May to depositing cans to raise funds for Timor-Leste students to remain in school and continue their studies past Year 9. With the US$ so low it is a tough time to raise enough funds for our 60 scholarships we aim to award each year. Many of you will … Continue reading Cash in your ‘Cans for Scholarships’ in Timor-Leste
Scholarships – providing access to a better future
Donate Today We have a firm belief that ‘education’ will play a major role in strengthening the nation of Timor-Leste. An educated population will mean greater access to health services, stronger economic growth and a consistent appropriate food supply. A stated priority of the Timor-Leste government is to keep students at school. The ability to … Continue reading Scholarships – providing access to a better future
SEFOPE NEWS from Octaviano
by Chris Hansen Octaviano, a Civil Engineer graduate from Viqueque who has been supported by Geelong, is now in the seventh month of his "Seasonal Worker" contract in Australia. He recently moved from the Northern Territory, picking watermelons, to Albany, Western Australia, where he is now picking and packing strawberries! There are 28 East Timorese on … Continue reading SEFOPE NEWS from Octaviano
Iona College Fundraiser
by Anna Haintz Recently, Margie Beck, a great friend to Timor-Leste and former Deputy Director of Bacau Teachers College, visited Iona College to speak to some Year 10 and Year 7 students. They heard that Timor-Leste, one of our nearest neighbours, has almost 50% of its population living in multi-dimensional poverty with a low standard … Continue reading Iona College Fundraiser
Visit to Geelong by Margie Beck AM
12 - 13 October 2023 We were lucky to be able to host Margie Beck AM in Geelong again, this time for two days. Although now recently retired and living in Sydney, Margie is still very connected to Timor-Leste and its people through her ongoing work with the Marist Brothers, helping to support students wishing … Continue reading Visit to Geelong by Margie Beck AM
Save the Date
GVFS will hold a Trivia Night on Friday 10 May 2024. We suggest some forward planning – save the date and start organising a table with friends, family, colleagues, neighbours…!You might also have prizes to donate. In addition, you might be interested in coming along to a committee meeting: the dates in 2024 are 7/2, … Continue reading Save the Date
Scholarship Program
by Louise Madden, President A stated priority of the Timor-Leste government is to keep students at school. The GVFS scholarship program is funded by Geelong schools, organisations and individuals who commit to financial contributions for a 3-year period or longer. Last year through this program we were able to award 60 scholarships. Thank you to … Continue reading Scholarship Program
Latest GVFS Newsletter
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Independence Day GVFS Dinner 2023
Thursday, 18 MayDavidson Restaurant, Gordon TAFE, Geelong This year we warmly welcomed guest speaker, Andrew Mahar (AM) Honorary Consul General of Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste. On 18 May 2023 Geelong-Viqueque Friendship Schools held a very successful fundraising dinner in the Gordon TAFE’s recently renovated Davidson Restaurant, with a full house comprising students, teachers and other … Continue reading Independence Day GVFS Dinner 2023
Margie Beck, Vice-Director of Marist Teachers’ College in Baucau, visits Geelong and Clonard College
We had a lovely catch up with Margie Beck OAM who greatly enjoyed reconnecting with so many she hadn’t seen for a long time. Margie has now retired as Vice-Director of Marist Teachers’ College in Baucau but continues to voluntarily organise the scholarships program and other projects. After living in Timor-Leste for twenty years, there … Continue reading Margie Beck, Vice-Director of Marist Teachers’ College in Baucau, visits Geelong and Clonard College
The Coffee Industry of Timor-Leste
A recent screening of Kafe Timor, a series of short films showing the importance of the coffee industry to Timor-Leste, was held at the Sun Theatre in Yarraville. Grown in the high mountains, coffee is Timor-Leste’s largest non-oil industry, providing a livelihood for more than 30% of the Timorese people. The process of growing beans … Continue reading The Coffee Industry of Timor-Leste
A successful Trivial Pursuit!
Geelong Viqueque Friendship Schools' Trivia Night Friday 29th April, 2022 This year, the committee made a decision to hold a Trivia Night, rather than a Dinner as we have done in previous years. What a great decision! The Trivia Night was an outstanding success, both financially and socially. Thank you to everyone who contributed in … Continue reading A successful Trivial Pursuit!
A Diverse Art for Timor Photographic Exhibition
‘UMA- Home’ Familia da Silva We would like to thank all who contributed to our recent Art for Timor Photographic Exhibition which highlighted our shared humanity with our near neighbours in Viqueque, Timor-Leste. The theme Uma-Home was selected to highlight the similarities and differences we share in our daily lives. The word home means different … Continue reading A Diverse Art for Timor Photographic Exhibition
Peter’s ‘Art for Timor’ Works 2020
The 'Art for Timor' Committee is thrilled that so many Geelong locals are enjoying their visits to the Rachinger Gallery to view the 'Art for Timor' Art show. For those who are currently unable to visit the gallery space, long time committee member (and former GVFS President) Peter Cannon has provided us with a sneak … Continue reading Peter’s ‘Art for Timor’ Works 2020
Geelong-Viqueque Friendship Schools 