Kirsty Sword Gusmão facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kirsty Sword Gusmão
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Sword Gusmão accepting a plaque aboard the USS Reuben James (FFG-57) in 2010
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| First Lady of East Timor | |
| In role 20 May 2002 – 20 May 2007 |
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| President | Xanana Gusmão |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Ana Pessoa Pinto |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Kirsty Sword
19 April 1966 Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
| Nationality | |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 3 sons |
| Parents | Brian Sword and Rosalie Sword |
| Education |
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| Alma mater |
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| Occupation | Administrative secretary, teacher, researcher, interpreter, political activist |
| Known for | First Lady of East Timor |
| Awards | Officer of the Order of Australia |
Kirsty Sword Gusmão (born Kirsty Sword on April 19, 1966) is an activist from both Australia and East Timor. She was the First Lady of East Timor from 2002 to 2007. She was married to Xanana Gusmão, who was a former president and prime minister of East Timor. They separated in 2015. Kirsty Sword Gusmão started the Alola Foundation. This group works to make life better for women in Timor-Leste. Timor-Leste is a country with a low income per person.
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Early Life and Schooling
Kirsty Sword was born in 1966 in Melbourne, Australia. Her parents, Brian and Rosalie Sword, were both schoolteachers. She grew up in Melbourne and Bendigo. She went to Eaglehawk Primary School. Her father was the principal there, and her mother taught music.
Kirsty learned her first words in the Indonesian language when she was four years old. Her father taught them to her. She was a very good ballet dancer. However, she decided not to become a professional dancer. As a teenager, Kirsty traveled to Bali and Jakarta with her father and brother.
After attending Golden Square Secondary College, she went to college. She studied at Monash University and the University of Melbourne in the 1980s. She earned a degree in Arts with honors. Her main subjects were Indonesian and Italian. She also got a teaching degree. In 1985, while studying Indonesian, Kirsty met students from Timor-Leste. She then became involved in their fight for independence. Her father, Brian, passed away in 1998.
Working to Help Others
Kirsty Sword worked as an administrative secretary until 1991. She then joined a program at Oxford University in England. Later that year, she went to East Timor. She worked there as a researcher and interpreter. She helped with a TV documentary called In Cold Blood: The massacre of East Timor. This film was about the political situation in the area.
From 1992 to 1996, Kirsty lived in Jakarta, Indonesia. She taught English and helped people in need. She also worked as a human rights campaigner. During this time, she secretly became an activist and a spy. She worked for the Timor-Leste resistance against Indonesian rule. Her secret name was Ruby Blade. Later, Xanana Gusmão changed it to Mukya, which means "fragrant."
Kirsty believed her actions were right. She said the organization she worked for knew about her activities. She felt she was simply an individual following her conscience.
From Activist to First Lady
Kirsty Sword finally met Xanana Gusmão in person in December 1994. At that time, he was in Jakarta's Cipinang prison. He was serving a sentence for leading the East Timorese resistance group FRETILIN. Their first contact was when she taught him English by mail starting in 1992. She managed to get into the prison by pretending to visit an uncle.
Xanana was set free in 1999. He and Kirsty got married the next year in Dili. They lived in independent Timor-Leste with their three sons. From May 2002 to May 2007, Xanana was the President of Timor-Leste. Kirsty Sword Gusmão became the country's First Lady. In November 2003, she wrote a book about her life called A Woman of Independence.
During the 2006 East Timorese crisis, Kirsty helped her husband. She gave interviews and met Australian soldiers. Xanana was not able to move much because of back pain. In May 2007, Xanana decided not to run for president again. His prime minister, José Ramos-Horta, became the new president. Xanana then became Prime Minister in August. In October, Kirsty was given an important role. She became the Goodwill Ambassador for Education of Timor-Leste.
On February 11, 2008, there were reports of attacks. Xanana Gusmão's car came under gunfire. This happened an hour after President Ramos-Horta was shot. These events made people think there might be a coup attempt. During these dangerous times, Kirsty protected her children. She also sheltered another woman and her four children. She spoke to Xanana on the phone and learned he was also under attack. The Gusmão family was reunited after talks between her guards and the attackers. Even with the risks, Kirsty decided to stay in Timor-Leste.
Personal Life
In early 2013, it was reported that Kirsty Sword Gusmão had treatment for breast cancer.
After 15 years of marriage, Kirsty and her husband separated in March 2015. She now lives in Melbourne with their three sons.
Awards and Recognition
On May 14, 2014, Victoria University gave Kirsty Sword Gusmão an honorary degree. This was to recognize her community work. She was honored for promoting education and improving the lives of women and children in Timor-Leste.
In June 2015, Kirsty Sword Gusmão was given a special award. She was made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO). This award was for her great work in building good relations between Australia and Timor-Leste. It recognized her efforts in education and improving health and living conditions for the people of Timor-Leste.
