Edward Willis

I’ve been contacted by a producer from the popular Fox TV series ‘Coast Australia’ hosted by Neil Oliver, who are in process of preparing for the next series that is planned to include a Darwin episode featuring the links between the port and harbour area and the 2/2 campaign against the Japanese on Timor during 1941-1942. The episode will be shot in Darwin during the first half of May. Great stories that come to mind in this regard that were featured during last year’s 75th anniversary on the Doublereds website include the unit’s departure from Darwin for Timor, Winnie the War Winner, the Timor Ferry Service, the arrival of the 2/4 and the wreck of the ‘Voyager’, the sinking of the ‘Armidale’ and Teddy Sheahan’s heroics, and the 2/2’s departure from Timor and arrival in Darwin on the ‘Tjerk Hiddes’ https://doublereds.org.au/archives/articles/. There may be an opportunity to bring in the ‘Debt of honour’ angle in the context of the current Timor Gap treaty negotiations. I’m posting this message to see if any members of the 2/2 fraternity, especially family members of soldiers in the unit, may have information or other material that may assist in preparing the program. Locations in Darwin including Stokes Hill Wharf and the ‘Zealandia’ wreck site that have a direct 2/2 connection should be included in the episode but if anyone has other suggestions about sites around the harbour or elsewhere on the coast that are relevant to the story please let me know. The producer is also interested in other material such as relevant personal memoirs, letters, photos, art work and memorabilia that might be made available – but remember they must be connected to the 2/2 and coastal or harbour Darwin. Please contact me by e-mail: ew988662@bigpond.net.au, Doublereds Messages or Facebook if you have any ideas or items that you think may assist with the episode. I am participating in the upcoming ‘Timor 1942 Commando Campaign Tour’ (see earlier story) that will run from 22 April – 2 May but should be contactable by those methods most of the time I am in Timor-Leste. This is a great opportunity to enhance public knowledge of the 2/2 story and any assistance you are able to provide would be greatly appreciated. Ed Willis 2/2 Commando Association of Australia Committee Member and ‘Courier’ editor

2/2 COMMANDO ASSOCIATION FUNDS COMPACT TEACHER TRAINING FOR CALOHAN-LETEFOHO VILLA PRIMARY SCHOOL WITH A LARGE CONTRIBUTION FROM THE MELVILLE FRIENDS OF HATOLIA At a meeting on 7 February, the Committee decided to provide funding to support Compact Teacher Training (Professional Development) for Calohan-Letefoho Villa Primary School, Letefoho Subdistrict, Municipality of Ermera, Timor-Leste. This follows on the successful completion of a similar training program funded by the Association at Ailelo/Cosbouk and Samara Schools in the Hatolia Subdistrict in July 2017. The Melville Friends of Hatolia (MFoH) organised the training session at Ailelo/Cosbouk and Samara Schools but wound itself up as an association in late November 2017. At its final meeting MFoH members agreed to donate the bulk of its remaining funds (approximately $3,800) to the 2/2 Commando Association of Australia to be used to fund professional development training for teachers in Timor-Leste. This was in recognition of the successful cooperation between the two organisations in completing teacher training and toilet construction projects over the previous three years. Committee member Ed Willis invited Snr Francisco Jorge dos Santos, Program Manager, Learning Resource Development Center to submit a budget proposal for professional development training at another school and he sent the proposal for teacher professional development at Calohan-Letefoho Villa Primary School for consideration that the Committee approved. The total cost is US$5,315 = AUD$6,432. The Association has used the $3800 donated by MFoH towards the cost of the training and ‘topped up’ the balance (approx. $2,600) from its own funds. The training program will proceed after the Timor-Leste elections that will be held on 10 May. The 2/2 Commandos campaigned actively in the Lete-Foho area in 1942 and frequently used the township as a base and enjoyed great support from the Portuguese chefe de posto and the local Timorese people. Bernard Callinan, one-time commanding officer of the 2/2, held great affection for the place and named his house in Melbourne ‘Lete Foho’.