Note of Condolence on the death of Shirley Shackleton
Presidency of the Council of Ministers
Eighth Constitutional Government
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January 16th, 2023
Press Release
Note of Condolence on the Death of Shirley Shackleton
The Government of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste has received with great consternation and sorrow the news of the passing away of Shirley Shackleton, widow of journalist Greg Shackleton, one of the journalists known as the Balibo Five, killed by Indonesian forces in Balibo, on October 16th, 1975.
Following a lasting illness, Shirley Shackleton passed away yesterday, January 15th, in Melbourne.
Born on December 26th, 1931 in Plympton, Adelaide, Australia.
After her husband, Greg Shackleton, an Australian journalist, was murdered in Balibo on October 16th, 1975, along with four other journalists, Shirley spent the rest of her life defending the self-determination of the Timorese People and fighting for the truth about the circumstances of the murder of the five journalists.
She was director of the Balibó House Trust, an organization she helped establish, responsible for the recovery of the Australian Flag House, several social projects in Balibo and which honours the memory of the five journalists - Australians Greg Shackleton and Tony Stewart, Britons Malcolm Rennie and Brian Peters, and New Zealander Gary Cunningham.
In 2010, she wrote the book “The Circle of Silence: a Personal Testimony Before, During and After Balibo”.
In 2013, in recognition of her significant contribution to the benefit of Timor-Leste and the Timorese, she was awarded the Medal of the Order of Timor-Leste.
The Prime Minister, Taur Matan Ruak, expressed “deep condolences to the relatives of the late Shirley Shackleton” and stated that “her loss is also a loss for Timor-Leste”.
The spokesman for the 8th Constitutional Government, Minister Fidelis Magalhães, on behalf of the Government and the Timorese People, offered condolences to the family and friends of Shirley Shackleton and stated that “her voice in defence of the Timorese People and her warm friendship and continued support in the struggle for independence will never be forgotten”. END
