A local Timorese boy using his finger to write in the dust on the back of the Sallyman vehicle, ...

A local Timorese boy using his finger to write in the dust on the back of the Sallyman vehicle, while other Timorese children and Ken Matthews, a member of the Everyman's Welfare Service (EWS) (left) looks on. The dusty Sallyman vehicle provided the perfect 'blackboard' for writing on after Ken Matthews was asked how to spell 'girls' by the adolescent boys, and following this, he became an unofficial English teacher to the children of the villiage of Balibo. Other word written on the vehicle include ' mister' and a number of names including 'Ken', 'Fredy' and 'Ameta'. The vehicle is a model 130 Defender series Land Rover, with the registration number of 086 DQI, and was operated by members of the Everyman's Welfare Service (EWS) and the Red Shield Defence Services (RSDS), part of the Salvation Army, and was fitted out to hold hot and cold drinks, food including biscuits, chocolate, chewing gum and lollies, as well as greeting cards, writing pads, pens and envelopes. This particular vehicle had been in East Timor from 1999 and provided support in the form of spirituality, food and drinks and stationery to Australian Defence Personnel, international members of the various peacekeeping forces, including the United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor (UNMISET) to which Australia contributed approximately 440 military and civilian personnel, known as Operation Citadel., and East Timorese locals.