Although Fr Tony Harrison's six-month deployment to Timor-Leste as an army chaplain is drawing to a close, the Queenstown priest says the pace of activity remains the same.
Now in their last month of supporting and assisting development of the island nation commonly known as East Timor, the New Zealand Defence Force Gyro 10 deployment will soon hand over an "ongoing concern" to Gyro 11 forces.
Fr Harrison last week told the Queenstown Times their forces must maintain patrolling and security right up to the time they hand over to the incoming deployment, but had found time to celebrate Anzac Day.
He said a large crowd of Australians and New Zealanders living and working in East Timor swelled the numbers at the dawn service, which was celebrated at their compound in Dili.
As well as the Defence Force personnel, most of the New Zealand police contingent working under the aegis of the United Nations were present, and the service concluded with the words of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk being read by the superintendent of the Turkish police contingent.
"Afterwards, a small group of us visited four of the memorial sites to New Zealand servicemen who died during the time of our presence from 1999 to 2002. It was quite significant to celebrate Anzac Day while on deployment, and more so to be able to visit these sites," Fr Harrison said.
Some of those who made the journey were in East Timor at the time of Private Leonard Manning's death in 2000, and one was a member of the section involved on that day.
"While we prayed and laid poppies at each memorial site, there was often a group of the local people gathering around us," Fr Harrison said.
"It was a privilege to have been able to be there that day. I am sure it is a comfort to the families of these men to know that they are not forgotten for the sacrifice of their lives."
As their deployment covered the majority of calendar holidays, he said it was quite interesting to note the way the East Timorese people observe major religious celebrations.
Churches overflow on Good Friday and Palm Sunday, and one priest he spoke to had travelled eight hours on foot to hear confessions at one of his 20 chapels.
"It could be well argued that the people don't have the religious education standard as we do in New Zealand, but they know what they believe and are unafraid to give expression to it."
On May 20, East Timor will celebrate Independence Day, and while much work still awaits it, Fr Harrison said he was pleased when reflecting on what the international stabilisation force had achieved in the area.
"I am proud of the part that the New Zealand Defence Force has been able to play in assisting this process, and of what Gyro 10 has accomplished through its presence."
