Dili, East Timor. 21 December 1999. Australian and international soldiers, part of a crowd of ...

Dili, East Timor. 21 December 1999. Australian and international soldiers, part of a crowd of 10,000, many wearing Santa hats, gathered at the stage in the soccer stadium in central Dili during the Tour of Duty concert put on for the troops of the International Force for East Timor (Interfet). The concert was compered by Roy Slaven and H. G. Nelson and featured singers Kylie Minogue, John Farnham and Doc Neeson, among others, as well as a reggae group made up of Australian and Timorese artists called the Dili All Stars. The concert also included a speech by Major General Peter Cosgrove and a Christmas message from the Prime Minister of Australia, John Howard. A number of the crowd waved signs and banners bearing messages home, and the large banner in this section of the crowd reads "Smarter than the average bear Happy New Year" and shows the 17th Construction Squadron unit sign, and Australian flag and the words Hi Mum, the Triple J drum logo, and the Care Australia logo. To the right of the banner is a film crew which televised the event live to Australia. Locals who have climbed trees to view the concert can be seen in the background.