*In this dramatic reenactment of the murder of journalist Roger East by invading Indonesian soldiers in the East Timor capital, Dili,December 1975, Wesley-Smith plays the part of East. (Photograph by Darwin photo-journalist David Hancock.) *** ''Robert Wesley-Smith is an exemplar of perseverance and moral commitment. He played a leading part in the attempt to break the Indonesian blockade in 1976 and was a constant advocate, jeopardising his career as a Darwin agronomist and sacrificing his material resources for the cause of East Timor."- Statement by David Scott, OA, in his book, LAST FLIGHT OUT OF DILI, Pluto Press , Australia, 2005
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While constantly fighting the good fight, during nearly 50 years residence in the Territory, Wesley-Smith has also been involved in numerous community sporting and social activities. That widespread involvement and commitment continues unabated today-despite an accident which saw him in Royal Darwin Hospital in an induced coma.
Apart from zooming about on his motorbike in earlier days, he played Aussie Rules for Wanderers; coached the under 19 Parap Wanderers Football Club to a premiership and also initiated the U15 Junior Football League where in its first year he acted as umpire, coach and water boy, and unsurprisingly ( his comment) won the inaugural premiership; planned and organised the first Banyili football carnival, now a major annual event; even coached the Kormilda College Girls’ Soccer side;long before the city boasted an orchestra, he played the trumpet in a seven- strong Anglican ensemble which competed in the North Australian Eisteddfod and saw David Gulpilil ,about 16,performing a stunning tribal dance, awarded third prize,which Wes firmly believes should have been the winning entry; made a submission to a parliamentary inquiry which may have led to a shake up in Aboriginal education in the NT ; sang in choirs ; wrote numerous letters to newspapers; had his own newspaper column-WESVIEW-in the independent newspaper,the Darwin Star,which gave the NT News a run for its money; played a leading part in setting up the NT Civil Liberties Council( more later in another Little Darwin special report. )
Over a glass of soft drink, Wes ruminated on this less than complete list , throwing in many amusing anecdotes, some a mite scurrilous, laughing from time to time. "I got involved in a lot of shit," he admitted, smiling impishly . Indeed. A Catholic cleric researching aspects of Darwin life wanted to know if this Wesley-Smith person,mentioned so many times, was one person or a clan.
Due to frequent contact with union officials ,Wes was introduced to a new arrival from the Miscellaneous Workers’ Union, Sydney,Jon Isaacs,who later became the ALP NT Leader of the Opposition. Wes put forward the case that unions should take up the cause of Aboriginal rights and advancement , irrespective of the fact that they were not paid up members. It would be nigh on impossible trying to sell the idea of unions and membership to Aborigines, he told them. It is his belief that he persuaded the MWU that it should waive the membership rule in respect of Aborigines and this attitude spread to other unions.
About this time, he consulted a lawyer he knew and was referred to a new legal eagle in town, Ian Barker, who became a QC, the NT's first Solicitor General ,who spoke out about the sacking of the Whitlam Government by Sir John Kerr and a key figure in the Azaria Chamberlain case.
Off to Russia went Wes in 1974 to attend the International Grasslands Congress. The party observed pasture trials conducted higher than Mt Kosciusko. On a rotating basis, Wes was elected the leader at a function where he made a speech that included a few jokes, explained through an interpreter, which the hosts apparently appreciated because they laughed. While there he was introduced to kumus, fermented mares mik, which he downed in Territory fashion; some in the party gagged when they took a sip.
Also known as Milk Champagne, kumus was reputed to be good for chronic diseases such as TB, bronchitis,catarrh and anaemia. It is said that the Russian writers Leo Tolstoy and Anton Chekhov, the latter suffering from TB, took the "Kumus Cure". Chekhov was not cured, but put on much weight. Some finicky people found the old habit of putting the dregs from kumus cups back into the main storage container for later use off-putting.
As part of tours associated with the congress ,the party travelled through the Central Asian countries of Uzbekistan-Tashkent and Samakand , the latter on the old Silk Road, one of the oldest cities in the world ; Tajikistan , Kazakhstan and Frunze the then beautiful capital of Kyrgystan,named after a close buddy of Lenin,the city laid out in a spectacular grid pattern with wide boulevards, most streets flanked on both sides by narrow irrigation channels ,numerous trees providing shade in hot summers. Wes said Frunze’s main street had something like 16 footpaths and roadways, greenery ,three bike tracks. The locals took a shine to Wes and called him a " Kyrgys-beck," a true friend who would return one day.
[ So impressed was he by the layout of Frunze he later urged Whitlam Government minister for cities and urban development , Tom Uren ,to visit the city for inspiration on how to beautify Australian cities , kindly offering to go along as his advisor and guide, at the same time availing himself of the opportunity to down some more kumus .]
At the end of the visit ,there was an elaborate dinner in Tashkent which included girls in national dress dancing and serving . A large jug of kumus was sent to Wes and everyone laughed. He responded by taking the jug back to the top table and told his hosts he did not want to deprive them of such a fine drop and told them to have a swig themselves.
[ So impressed was he by the layout of Frunze he later urged Whitlam Government minister for cities and urban development , Tom Uren ,to visit the city for inspiration on how to beautify Australian cities , kindly offering to go along as his advisor and guide, at the same time availing himself of the opportunity to down some more kumus .]
At the end of the visit ,there was an elaborate dinner in Tashkent which included girls in national dress dancing and serving . A large jug of kumus was sent to Wes and everyone laughed. He responded by taking the jug back to the top table and told his hosts he did not want to deprive them of such a fine drop and told them to have a swig themselves.
Preparing for departure at an airport , Wes took some photos. A KGB type, with whom Wes had become friendly during the visit, hastily advised him to desist , as he could get into trouble, it being the Cold War, and an airport regarded as a military installation. A New Zealander who took snaps had his camera confiscated and the film removed .
Because of Wes’s prominent part in Darwin’s anti-Vietnam War protests and involvement in other issues,unions invited Wes to meet Jose Ramos Horta from East Timor when he made his first visit to Darwin in 1974, seeking support from Canberra and the media for Fretilin and East Timor independence in light of Portugal’s declaration of self determination for its colonies. Horta pointed out Timor residents had helped Australian troops stranded on the island during WW11 and many of them had been killed by the Japanese for doing so.
On June 17,1974,the Indonesian Foreign Minister, Adam Malik, sent a letter to Horta , whom he had met in Jakarta,stating that the recent changes in Lisbon, Portugal,offered a "good opportunity to the people of Timor to accelerate the process towards independence."
Minister Malik went on to say that whoever governed Timor after independence could be "assured" that the Indonesian government would always strive to have good relations, friendship and cooperation for the benefit of both countries. The letter ended:"With my best wishes and warm regards to you and to all the people in Timor."
Minister Malik went on to say that whoever governed Timor after independence could be "assured" that the Indonesian government would always strive to have good relations, friendship and cooperation for the benefit of both countries. The letter ended:"With my best wishes and warm regards to you and to all the people in Timor."
It was decided by Darwin unionists that a committee should be formed to deal with the East Timor issue and that Wes be in it because of his experience. As often happens with committees,it became almost a one man band,partly due to his dogged determination and application.
About Christmas 1974,Wes, through a friend, sent some seeds to a Fretilin member in Dili , Nicolau Lobato, East Timor’s first Prime Minister,one of 17 ministers sworn in at the birth of the nation, shortly before the Indonesian onslaught. Then Cyclone Tracy hit Darwin.
One of those who came to Darwin as a result of the cyclone was veteran journalist Roger East. He was on the personal staff of the head of the interim Darwin Reconstruction Commission, Sir Leslie Thiess. Somehow, during that chaotic post cyclone period, Wes did not meet East. The fact that East gave up his secure, highly paid job , packed his fishing rod, and went off to Dili to help Fretilin, with the active support of Horta,impressed Wes. East,who could have flown out to safety in Darwin, remained and was shot and thrown into the sea when the Indonesians invaded Dili.
Roger East , arrowed, at Darwin Reconstruction Commission media conference.On his right is his longtime friend, reporter Peter Blake, now in New York. The woman is social and travel writer, the late Joy Collins. Another journalist,Bruce Brammall, from Canberra , also known as Warty J. Warthog, is far right.
Once the invasion took place, Wes, shocked and appalled, threw himself into the cause and fought long and hard for the beleaguered country. Wes became involved in a problem associated with the sale in Darwin of East Timor coffee,worth $38,000. It had been sold on behalf of the Timorese by Cypriot Sydney jeweller, Jim Zantis. The money was lodged in the Commonwealth Bank and one of the two signatories required for its release was killed during the Indonesian invasion. When the bank refused to hand over the money, Fretilin was desperately in need of the money. Wes suggested forging the signature; Horta , was not amenable to his audacious solution. The money remained frozen in the bank until after Timor-Leste voted for independence in 1999. NEXT: Wes and others take on the moral turpitude of the world’s political elite who turned a blind eye to the slaughter in East Timor, our nextdoor neighbour.
Roger East , arrowed, at Darwin Reconstruction Commission media conference.On his right is his longtime friend, reporter Peter Blake, now in New York. The woman is social and travel writer, the late Joy Collins. Another journalist,Bruce Brammall, from Canberra , also known as Warty J. Warthog, is far right.
Once the invasion took place, Wes, shocked and appalled, threw himself into the cause and fought long and hard for the beleaguered country. Wes became involved in a problem associated with the sale in Darwin of East Timor coffee,worth $38,000. It had been sold on behalf of the Timorese by Cypriot Sydney jeweller, Jim Zantis. The money was lodged in the Commonwealth Bank and one of the two signatories required for its release was killed during the Indonesian invasion. When the bank refused to hand over the money, Fretilin was desperately in need of the money. Wes suggested forging the signature; Horta , was not amenable to his audacious solution. The money remained frozen in the bank until after Timor-Leste voted for independence in 1999. NEXT: Wes and others take on the moral turpitude of the world’s political elite who turned a blind eye to the slaughter in East Timor, our nextdoor neighbour.
