Wyndham man on tour of duty in Timor Leste 

5 February 2008

Wyndham man Blair Timpany, 19, graduated from the New Zealand Army Basic recruit course in May last year; and by November he was in Dili serving with the New Zealand Defence Force.
 
"This (deployments) was one of the reasons I joined," Private Timpany says of his six month tour of duty to Timor Leste.

He is part of 107-strong company from 2/1 Battalion from Burnham Military Camp on deployment in Dili until June 2008  

The NZDF currently has 184 personnel serving in Timor Leste, with the majority of them based in Dili and making up part of the International Stabilisation Force, formed in May 2006.

The former Menzies college student said the lasting memory from his time in Timor will be scenes from the internally displaced persons camps that he patrols as part of the security role of the NZDF.

"People are living so close in such a difficult environment.  It is so much different from home." 

It is estimated that around 30,000 live in refugee camps spread around Dili, and it is part of the New Zealanders jobs to patrol camps to ensure the security of those living there.

Private Menzies said despite the poor conditions most people were welcoming of the New Zealand deployment.

"They are happy to see us and we always get smiles and hellos from them. Our presence is making them feel a lot safer," he said.

New Zealand has contributed to various United Nations and peacekeeping efforts in Timor-Leste since 1999.  The commitment to Timor-Leste is the largest one for the New Zealand Defence Force and at present consists of more than 180 Defence personnel and two helicopters serving with the Combined Joint Task Force as well as two Military Liaison Officers serving with the United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT) and two advisors to the Timor-Leste Defence Force.