(AseanAll) — President of the Republic of Timor-Leste and Nobel Peace Laureate, J. Ramos-Horta, participated in a commemorative ceremony in Melbourne on August 1, 2026 to mark the 50th Anniversary of the arrival of the first Timorese refugees on Australian soil.
The milestone event, organized by the Richmond Organizing Committee under the leadership of Frank Leong, brought together members of the Timorese diaspora, friends of Timor-Leste, and civil society representatives.
The commemoration honors the pioneering families who sought refuge in Australia following the political crisis and internal conflict in Timor-Leste in August 1975. Ramos-Horta’s presence in Melbourne followed the conclusion of his historic first State Visit to the Republic of Vanuatu, which took place from July 28 to 31.
In joining this significant historical commemoration, Ramos-Horta paid tribute to the first Timorese refugees who built new lives in Australia five decades ago. The Head of State recognized the exceptional courage, resilience, and dignity of those who were forced to leave their homeland during one of the most challenging chapters in Timor-Leste’s contemporary history, while praising the diaspora’s enduring connection to their nation of origin.
