BRIGIDA Corte-Real learnt throughout her education at Indooroopilly’s Brigidine College about the importance of social justice and equality for the less fortunate.
“It was from small beginnings such as yearly fundraisers, volunteer opportunities and helping to mount appeals for donations, ultimately intertwined with Catholic values, that my social conscience grew,” Brigida, 18, said.
Brigida couldn’t have guessed her early steps towards putting this knowledge into practice would come in Timor-Leste from where her parents and grandparents fled for their lives in the mid-1970s.
Her mother, Ligia, was five and one of six children and her father, Nelson, was eight and one of 13 children when their families fled then East Timor in 1975 ahead of military occupation.
For last year’s captain of Brigidine College, the opportunity to travel to Timor-Leste came just seven months after leaving high school.
“I was on my own once I got to UQ (University of Queensland) but soon discovered the Australian Student Christian Movement,” the commerce/law student said.
Soon after joining the ASCM, Brigida was invited to visit Dili from July 4 to 14 as part of a delegation.
The invitation came at the suggestion of her past teacher, Brigidine College’s deputy principal for mission Andrew Beiers, a member of the ASCM state council.
“In Dili, I got the chance to finally meet members of my extended family, many of whom Mum and Dad had never met,” she said.
“I was also very challenged by the vastly different lifestyle of the people there.
“Footpaths were littered with debris, roads were damaged and the many vehicles travelling these roads would not be considered roadworthy in Australia.
“Streets were lined with markets selling everything from fruit and vegetables to hats … It was clear these small stalls were the owners’ sole source of income.”
The ASCM met with their Timorese counterparts, graduates from Timor-Leste universities.
Food security was among issues discussed. The region is still extremely reliant on the import of food due to an absence of arable land.
“Education in effective farming methods is urgently required,” Brigida said.
“Unfortunately, many who do get educated in such methods go to other countries to follow a career … There’s no real financial incentive to stay in their home country.”
Brigida was concerned about the perilous state of the health system.
“One woman showing me around a hospital in Dili said you don’t want to get seriously ill,” she said.
“It’s too hard to get expert assistance.
“You would need to have enough money to fly to Indonesia or elsewhere for treatment.
“And the average wage in Timor-Leste is $140 a month.”
Brigida was moved by the plight of patients in a Timor-Leste non-governmental organisation, which runs a rehabilitation centre for people with physical disability.
“Apparently it’s the only place where people with disabilities can go in Dili,” she said.
“It’s always struggling hard for funding.
“Also once people leave the facility, they have no support in using disability aids provided by the centre.
“Those in wheelchairs trying to get around this rocky, hilly place have all sorts of problems.
“And there are few public places around Dili with wheelchair access.”
Despite its many problems, the beauty of the city and its people has left a lasting impression on Brigida.
“You’d have to travel to remote areas of Australia to find a place to rival Dili’s natural beauty,” she said.
“Much of the city is enclosed with spectacular high green mountains, with the remainder of its boundary welcoming the clear, calm waters of the Banda Sea.”
Yet, for Brigida, the island’s real beauty lies in its people.
“They were always smiling, friendly and hospitable despite their often difficult circumstances,” she said.
“After decades of struggle, they were so obviously proud to have overcome many hardships and achieve independence.”
Brigida also witnessed the importance of faith to the people of East Timor.
“Being an ecumenical group, we attended an Evangelical Sunday service which gave us an insight to the enormous amount of faith adherents place in God,” she said.
“We also had the opportunity to visit Dili’s magnificent and large Catholic cathedral which apparently is packed for every Mass.”
Brigida still sees her Catholic faith as “practical”.
“At Brigidine, as school captain, I was given the opportunity to try to be a positive influence for the students, particularly the younger girls,” she said.
“I’m now trying to get more involved as a volunteer with my parish of St Mark’s, Inala.”
Brigida summed up the outcome of her recent trip with the ACSM delegation to Timor-Leste.
“The aim was to develop stronger links between the Australian and Timor-Leste student groups,” she said.
“We wanted to let them know we’re there for them and can assist them.
“We certainly achieved that.”
This mission will be ongoing.
Last weekend Brigida and the other delegates were to report back on the Timor-Leste visit to the national ACSM’s general meeting in Melbourne.
They were to present proposals on ways to strengthen ties between the student bodies in the two countries.
For Brigida, the personal benefits of returning to her roots are also significant.
“Now I can really see why my parents are so passionate about the Catholic faith … It’s been with them since they were very young,” she said.
“From my parents’ point of view it was wonderful too that I had a chance to renew connections with our extended family members in Timor-Leste.
“We hope to visit there as a family for a reunion.
“Hopefully, this too will be the start of a new relationship.”
