CAPTAIN’S LOG

12/12/2011
Darwin 2.52 am.
The last time I was up this early I was getting in to bed not out. I ‘m surprisingly spritely for this hour, but I put that down to a combination of nerves and excitement about what’s ahead for the next few days.
Four hours earlier Warrant Officer and all round good guy Steve Smith ran us through Exercise Bosslift over dinner and a few beers. There are 29 of us in all. The group is made up of bosses who have an employee in the Army Reserve serving in East Timor, and they’re here at the invitation of the Army Reserve, to see what their employees get up to. The official line though is ” Build the capability of the Defence Reserves through engagement with employees.”
So who’s on board? It’s a mix of 40 and 50 something’s from across New South Wales. There’s Ted: a manager with Newcastle Buses. Pete: a building inspector who’s looking forward to seeing his son who’s part of the peacekeeping mission. Gill from Maitland also has a son over there.

Dili 6.30
Touched down in Dili about 6.30 after the hour and a bit flight from Darwin and headed straight up the main street or MSR (Main Supply Route) to the Hotel Timor. First impressions are that this is struggle street. It’s your typical SE Asian atmosphere ( scooters, buses packed to the rafters, skinny roadside dogs rummaging through the rubbish). One roadside store was a table of red meat with no discernible method of cooling it, so probably best to get to the shops early there. People are going about their business or on their way to work. It’s bloody hot and not even 8am. For the record there’s no hint of the horrible things that have happend here in the past, other than the obvious signs that East Timor is a developing country.

Dili 12.30 ish
After some briefings about Boss Lift and the history of East Timor we head off to the Jesus Statue. It’s a 10 k bus ride north east of Dili along the coastline. It’s seriously beautiful along here and a welcome change after the scenes in Dili. I can’t help but think it won’t be long before the flash resorts start springing up. We walk to the top of the hill up steep steps and I can’t remember being this hot and knackered . I’m also carrying the tripod for cameraman Pete who’s got plenty of his own gear to carry.Great scenery looking back to Dili, and it’s back down the hill and on to the stinking hot bus.

Dili 7.30 pm
At Camp Phoenix on the stickiest of nights. You can drink the humidity and there’s thunder in the hills that ring the city. There were some great scenes as we arrived at Phoenix tonight. For most of the bosses it was the first chance to see their employees in East Timor. For Newcastle builder it was extra special. His son 23 year old Kurt has been here since June, and their embrace after months apart was something special. Kurt, a rifleman and driver will be home in February, he says he’ll return home to his dad’s business better for the experience.
We head back to the Hotel Timor. At 5.45am we are walking through the back streets of Dili.