An educator, good neighbour and good employer
The Order of Malta Clinic would not have been possible without the generosity of the Jape Family who have built the clinic premises to and have provided it rent free for ten years.
The Jape family’s generous support has been in memory of the much loved and respected, Jap A Lem.
Jap A Lem was in his twenties when he migrated from China to Timor Leste. He grew up in a very disciplined environment and was well educated, with a good upbringing. He prided himself as an educator, good neighbour and good employer – qualities his children and grandchildren remember of him.
In 1976, during the civil unrest, Jap A Lem fled to Darwin Australia. When he passed away at the age of 85, his last words were “even though I had a very tough life, I’m happy and content”. He had only one regret: his final days were not in his home, Timor-Leste. On his deathbed one of his last requests of his son was that if he had a chance to come back to Timor-Leste, he must return and contribute to his birth place.
The Jape family returned to Timor-Leste in 2000 and started a super market in Dili during the after math of the civil war with three goals.
In 2008 they started the construction of Timor Plaza in 2008, which is now also home to the Order of Malta Medical Clinic.
“Jape Family is very proud to build a clinic that is designed to Australian standard and will continue to provide the facility rental free to the Order of Malta for at least 10 years, to a value approximately $2mil dollars. We appreciate that many friends and family have travelled a long way to be witnesses to our commitment to the community. It feels good to be able to give back and we take this opportunity to thank the Timorese people who have warmly welcomed & embraced my family back to Timor Leste. Many have fondly called my father “AVO”, meaning grandfather.”
Alan Jape, Order of Malta Clinic Opening Ceremony, November 2017
