East Timor: Deployment anniversary remembered by veteran Shane Pascoe-Bell East Timor: Deployment anniversary remembered by veteran Shane Pascoe-Bell

It wasn’t until Shane Pascoe-Bell landed on the shores of East Timor that the dangerous reality of the tiny island sunk in. 25 years on, the Darwin veteran has reflected on the life-changing experience.

Darwin local Shane Pascoe-Bell has reflected on his deployments to East Timor. Picture: Supplied.

As Australia pauses to remember those who deployed to East Timor 25 years ago, a Territorian veteran has reflected on his memories of landing on the shores of the tiny island.

This month marks a quarter of a century since Australian Defence Force personnel deployed to the island nation in response to one of the region’s most significant security events in recent history, which ultimately led to East Timor achieving independence and establish itself as a democracy.

Darwin local Shane Pascoe-Bell was a soldier with the 3rd Royal Australian Regiment in 1999 when he got the call-up to deploy to East Timor.

INTERFET troops from 3rd Brigade prepare to land on the beach at Suai East Timor, on-board HMAS Tobruk. Picture: Supplied.

Launching into the turbulent theatre from Darwin, Mr Pascoe-Bell said he remembered the situation moved quickly.

“I was 23 at the time, still a young bloke, and even though the leaders of the country were saying that we were going over it didn’t really sink in” he told the NT News.

“But when we did get to Dili a lot of the place had been destroyed, there was fire everywhere and that’s when it really started to sink in.”

Mr Pascoe-Bell said the historic significance of the deployment has dawned on him overtime.

“The whole thing was so much bigger than a 23 year-old,” he said.

“I reflect on it now, it was basically the birth of the country.”

By the time Shane Pascoe-Bell and his fellow troops had arrived in Dili, the situation on the island had deteriorated. Picture: Supplied.

In 2002, Mr Pascoe-Bell would return to East Timor for a second deployment where he witnessed the country have its first presidential election.

“I was there providing security around the time of Xanana Gusmão,” he said.

“I remember seeing how excited the people were to vote in their first election, I think it was an 80 or 90 per cent turnout.”

Australian INTERFET peacekeeping force attempt to control huge crowd queuing for food rations at entrance to Dili football stadium in East Timor. Picture: Supplied.

Mr Pascoe-Bell said returning to Dili remained “on the bucket list”.

Veterans Minister Jinson Charls said the occasion was an opportunity to consider the close “economic” and “cultural ties” shared between the Territory and East Timor.

“In 1999, Australia led an international response, and the deployment of ADF and AFP personnel changed the lives of Timorese people,” he said.

“Today we remember and thank those involved in the multinational effort, which established the nation’s independence and democracy.”

A commemoration service will be held at the Darwin Cenotaph on the Esplanade at 6pm on Friday, September 20.

The community is welcome to attend.

A dinner for East Timor ADF and AFP veterans will follow the service.

Originally published as East Timor: Deployment anniversary remembered by veteran Shane Pascoe-Bell East Timor: Deployment anniversary remembered by veteran Shane Pascoe-Bell