Musician and journalist Paul Stewart has produced a benefit album to help raise awareness and funds for the plight of Timorese women and children.
Stewart will launch 'Hau Abut' (I Am Woman) at theState Parliament of Victoria with member of Parliament Rob Hudson on Tuesday.
Funds raised from the sale of the CD will go towards improving the health of women and children at the Bairo Pite Clinic. The clinic sees more than 300 patients a day.
Paul Stewart was been a long-time activist and supporter of Timor-Leste. His brother Tony was one of the Balibo Five killed by Indonesian troops in 1975.
"My blood is in the soil along with that of thousands of East Timorese. Since meeting Timorese musician Gil Santos (who lost his father on the same day that I lost my brother), I have been inspired to walk side-by-side with the people of the former Portuguese colony in their struggle for liberation and independence," he said in a statement.
'I Am Woman' features The Dili Allstars, with guest female singers Mary Ellen Sassman and Fatimah Almeida performing a version of the Helen Reddy classic 'I Am Woman' in Tetum, with songs from Vika and Linda Bull, Rebecca Barnard, Lizzie Cavanagh, Lisa Miller, Laura Santoni-Wing, The Briscoe Sisters, The Thursday Night Ballarat Women's Choir, Monique Brumby, Kerri Ann Cox, Kerri Simpson, Cyndi Boste, Kavisha Mazzella, Avina, Black Velvet and The Sparnets.
Stewart hopes to raise $10,000 from the album.
The CD is being launched as a Mother's Day gift so people can give a gift to their mother's while helping mothers in Timor at the same time.
To order a special limited edition CD for $25 (each), or to make a donation to help the women and children of Timor-Leste, please contact The Australian Foundation for the Peoples of Asia and the Pacific Ltd (AFAP) - (02) 9906 3792 or online via the AFAP website at: www.afap.org >>
