POLICEWOMEN WALK A DIFFERENT BEAT

 
   
 
Two off-duty policewomen will start a 357km trek from Martin Place in Sydney at 7am on 3 March, to kick-start the 10-day Trek for Timor to Parliament House in Canberra, arriving 12 March.
 
Rotarians Libby Bleakley and Teresa Beck (both Australian Federal Police members) are walking a different beat to raise funds for their Community and Youth Centre ‘Sentru Formasaun Ba Juventude’, in Dili, Timor-Leste.
  
 
   
 
Timor-Leste is one of Australia’s closest neighbors. It is one of the least developed countries in the world, with levels of basic health, literacy and income similar to sub-Saharan Africa. More than 2/3 of the population live below the poverty line of less than $2USD a day; the country has one of the highest child mortality rates in the world; nearly 2/3 of the population is under 30 years of age; unemployment is 70% with youth unemployment at 24% and there is a high rate of youth related violence, domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse.
 
After being deployed to Timor-Leste for 3 years, Libby and Teresa have researched the needs of community at a grass roots level and have now developed the concept of the Centre (based on the Australian Police Citizen Youth Club model), as a crime reduction initiative. The Centre is a labour of love for the two women who have utilized their own funds and money raised to give something back to a deserving community. The Centre is the first of its kind in Timor-Leste and will meet a critical niche for crime prevention in the most populous community.
 
The project has been registered under Rotary Australia World Community Services (RAWCS) and the Rotary Club of Blackheath is the managing body, overseeing the project and assisting in raising funds.
 
Timor-Leste Consular General in Sydney Armandina Gusmao will join Libby and Teresa as they depart from Martin Place along Pitt Street, into George Street and then on to Parramatta Road for the first stop at Prestons after 38km. Arriving in Canberra they shall be met by the Timorese Ambassador, Abel Gutterres who shall accompany the Officers to Parliament House.
 
The youth and community centre has a designated women’s centre, classrooms, community meeting area and gymnasium and is open to all community members.
 
Libby and Teresa need to raise a further $300,000 to complete the centre and will be holding overnight fundraising events throughout the marathon walk. A detailed route plan is on the Sentru Formasaun Ba Juventude Facebook page.
 
Libby and Teresa will be available for interviews before the trek starts but can also be contacted along the way.
 
Tax-free donations can be made through the Rotary Club of Blackheath’s webpage www.rotaryclubofblackheath.com.au  by clicking our emblem on the right, or alternatively on the Sentru Formasaun Ba Juventude Facebook page, by clicking the hyperlink on the left hand side under “About”.
 
For more information and coordination of media interviews contact Libby Bleakley on M-0411032961 or Bob Aiken on M-0417722190.