Darwin businessman Jape Kong Su’s legacy to live on through workforce project

A Territory business icon’s legacy will continue to live on, with his family establishing a new project in his home country to address the skilled worker shortage. Read about the details here.

A prominent Darwin businessman’s legacy will live on following his death last week, with his family establishing a foundation in his home country.

Business icon Jape Kong Su passed away on Monday, September 26 aged 97.

Mr Jape’s daughter, Connie Jape, paid tribute to the NT icon in a Facebook post, saying “Dear dad your job is now done”.

“Don’t be afraid, we will walk with you for the final journey home,” she said.

Ms Jape also praised her father’s contribution to his home country of Timor-Leste.

“(His legacy) should be what the Timor people think about him,” she said.

“How much he affected that nation and improved their lives.”

Now, to honour that legacy, Mr Jape’s family will establish a new project in Timor-Leste to help upskill young workers.

The Fish Net Project will fund training for hundreds of young Timorese people to equip them to enter the work force in Australia as the country faces a skilled labour shortage.

“It’s not only that you help the Timorese but you actually help the skills shortage,” Mr Jape’s son and Jape Group managing director, Alan, said.

He said the funding would be part of her father’s legacy of improving Timor-Leste.

“We’re such a young nation and we’re such a low-skilled nation and without the help of a skill set they (the Timorese) have no prospects,” He said.

“Without us building anything for them to work in they have no job prospects.

“Australia is screaming out for workers and we have a nation that is only an hour away from us that’s got plenty of able bodies, they just don’t have the skill set. We’re trying to match the two things together to try and get the best possible outcome.”

Each recipient will receive up to $3000 depending on the cost of their training.

Once recipients of the funding have gained employment, the cost of their training will need to be repaid in instalments to fund future recipients’ training.

At Mr Jape’s emotional memorial on Sunday, his daughters Pamela, said the project embodied the best of her father’s approach to life.

“One of his favourite sayings is ‘If a man wants to fish, don’t give him a fish. Teach him how to fish’,” she said.

“The program will provide scholarships for young Timorese men and women for training so that they can become productive members of the community and find meaningful work.

“The program captures all his assets in one. Last week, former Northern Territory chief minister Michael Gunner led the public tributes to Mr Jape, who founded the Jape Group of Companies in Darwin in 1976 before developing the Jape Homemaker Village in the CBD in 1989.

“His contribution to the Territory has been immense – while the physical investment is evident and the Jape name stands tall on Bagot Rd – it is his charitable generosity that will never be forgotten.

“He leaves behind a wonderful family who all share his generosity of spirit.”

Pamela Jape is embraced by her nephew Chris after eulogising her father, prominent Darwin businessman Jape Kong Su at a public memorial at the Darwin Convention Centre. Picture: Glenn Campbell

In 1977, the Jape family purchased its Fannie Bay business, Hotel Singapore, before opening Jape Shopping Centre on Cavenagh St the following year.

In 2014, Mr Jape was made a member of the Order of Australia for his contribution to the Territory’s business world.

He also received the Order of Merit award in Timor-Leste.

Solomon MP Luke Gosling paid tribute to the business icon in Parliament on Monday.

“I am deeply saddened by the passing of Jape Kong Su,” Mr Gosling said.

Timor-Leste Golf Federation president Christopher Henry Samson also paid tribute to Mr Jape’s contribution to Timor-Leste, including the construction of Timor Plaza.

“I share my heartfelt condolences in this difficult testing time for the beloved family left behind,” Mr Samson said.

Originally published as Darwin businessman Jape Kong Su’s legacy to live on through workforce project