Click to enlarge

East Timor Service honours for Hamilton City Councillor

11 APRIL 2007

For Immediate Release

Hamilton City Councillor Peter Bos (MBE (Mil) ED) was officially awarded two significant honours for his service in East Timor at a private ceremony held at Council yesterday [10 April].

Hamilton mayor Michael Redman presented Cr Bos with the New Zealand Operational Service Medal and the East Timor Medal on behalf of the NZ Defence Force. Cr Bos’ close family, friends and army colleagues were present at the occasion.

The East Timor Medal recognises the valuable participation of New Zealand personnel, both military and non-military, who served in East Timor to protect and assist the East Timorese people and the reconstruction of East Timor. The NZ Operational Service Medal provides specific NZ recognition for operational service and is awarded once only to an individual regardless of how many times they have been deployed on operations.

Cr Bos was deployed to East Timor for two weeks in March 2001 on peace support operations. His visit was part of an exchange initiative established by the New Zealand Local Government Commission and the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET). The aim of the exchange was to share NZ’s local government experience to assist in establishing democracy and economy in East Timor.

While in East Timor, Cr Bos gave a presentation on local democracy at Think Tank on Local Government that was attended by senior Timorise local officials. He also met with NZ Army leaders to discuss the most effective means of providing additional welfare support in East Timor through the NZ Army and identified the needs of the East Timorese community.

Prior to his East Timor visit, Cr Bos established a charitable trust called New Zealand Soldiers Support Trust. The trust received donations towards welfare support for NZ troops in East Timor, their families and the East Timorese people. Through the trust, Cr Bos raised significant funds and material which were invested in welfare and support initiatives, including the provision of information and materials to re-roof homes and get water supply operational in East Timor.

Cr Bos says that being awarded the medals was an unexpected but wonderful surprise.

“I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to personally contribute to peace keeping operations in East Timor and a better future for that country.

There are many personnel, both serving and non-serving, who have and continue to make a more profound difference to East Timor than I have, but I greatly appreciate the honour of being awarded these two medals for my contribution.”

The medals add to Cr Bos’ existing service accomplishments, which include being awarded a Military Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire and the Efficiency Decoration that is awarded to officers of the New Zealand Territorial Army who complete 12 years continuous and efficient service and an Efficiency medal for 12 years efficient service in the ranks.

ENDS

© Scoop Media