Bulletin

Issue: August 2005

News

Running for East Timor

La Trobe University lecturer in health psychology, Dr Sandra Tunley, has helped the new nation of East Timor to get up and running. In May last year Dr Tunley, from the Bendigo Campus, went to East Timor for the Alola Foundation to promote a breastfeeding program.

Aspiring East Timorese athletes hold up
some of their new running shoes, with
Ms Amaral, second row, second from right.

Set up by East Timor's First Lady, Kirsty Sword-Gusmao, the foundation initially dealt with problems of sexual and gender-based violence experienced by women and girls of East Timor. It now addresses wider women's issues, including the health of newborn babies.

Dr Tunley returned to East Timor in May this year to follow up on the original breastfeeding program, now established in many districts, and to promote a new venture called 'Ten Healthy Habits'.

'East Timor is slowly rebuilding,' she says, 'but people are still hungry, and have only basic shelter. There are few jobs and the nation's best hope lies in education and training.'

Dr Tunley, accompanied by former colleague Wendy Sheldon, was well aware there were limits to what they could do to help in two weeks – but they hoped that they could achieve a little in addition to their professional role. Their opportunity came when they met East Timor Olympian, Aguida Amaral, who, with her husband Antonio, trains children to run in the mountains. The children trained in thongs or bare feet.

Dr Tunley emailed her colleagues on the Bendigo campus asking them to pledge $5 for a pair of shoes. Minutes later 12 pledges arrived. Within 24 hours there was enough money to buy 150 pairs.

With the help of Ms Amaral, shoe sizes were obtained that afternoon, and twelve dozen pairs of running shoes where purchased. Three days later the shoes were on the feet of the aspiring athletes.

'Even two weeks can make a difference,' says Dr Tunley.