Army - The Soldiers' Newspaper

ADF personnel who attended the Bali Memorial Service in Kuta in Bali on October 12, 2003. Rear row, from left: Pte Tony Elliot, 1CSSB; Sqn-Ldr Pat Woods, 382 ECSS; Lt Trent Mongan, Norforce; WO1 Gary Sherlock, Capability Systems Division; Capt Alasdir Stehouwer, 4 RAR(Cdo); Cpl George Cooke, IRR; Maj Chris Wallis, 1 Cdo Regt; Sqn-Ldr Steve Cook, 3 CSH; Pte Gareth McConnell, 1CSSB; WO2 Brett Campbell, HADS(J). Front row, from left: CPO Tony Maher, HADS(J); CHAP Ron Peacock, HQ LSF; Capt Emily Mongan, 1CSR; Cpl Kellie Shandley, DSD; Sqn-Ldr Ian Whitley, 321 CSS; SCDT Anthony McKay, RMC-D; WO2 Bryson Keenan (Rtd), ex HADS(J); Cpl James Coolahan, 37 Sqn; Col Neil Thompson, SOD; Maj Jon Steinbeck, ASTJIC; Capt Rod Cocks, 22 Const Regt; Sqn-Ldr Sally Scott, 321 CSS; WOFF Julie Wills, HADS(J); Senior Chap Richard Thompson, Navy Systems Command. Photo by Cpl Darren Hilder, 1JPAU(P)

'We shall never forget'
ADF honoured for Op Bali Assist, a year after terrorist attack

From Greg Hughes in Bali
"I THOUGHT that I'd moved on to a degree from that fateful day - but standing with the affected families in Bali for the first anniversary brought all the emotion back again.

"Even though it was some of the toughest days of my professional career, I think it's something I have become richer for the experience."

This was the situation that Sqn-Ldr Steve Cook never hoped he would have to face, but something that he and his team were certainly trained for.

It was late on October 12, 2002, when two terrorist explosions rocked Bali in Indonesia.

With a rapidly rising death toll, Op Bali Assist was the name given to the ADF's commitment to the evacuation of injured Australians, approved foreign nationals and critically injured Indonesians.

It was the largest Australian aeromedical evacuation (AME) since the Vietnam War, and relied on considerable military and civilian cooperation.

The operation involved the triage, stabilisation and evacuation of 66 critically ill patients from Bali to Darwin and subsequent locations further south.

Defence responded quickly to the call for assistance, with the first AME team airborne in record time from RAAF Base Richmond.

As one of the doctors with the AME, Sqn-Ldr Cook worked without complaint, under enormous pressure and with what appeared to be limitless energy and stamina.

"I think what surprised us all was not only the seriousness of the injuries, but also the sheer guts and determination of those people injured," he said.

Twelve months on and more than 3000 people, including Secretary of Defence Ric Smith - who was the Australian ambassador to Indonesia at the time of the terrorist attack - gathered at the Garuda Wisnu Kencana, a majestic venue for what all agreed was an appropriate milestone in the grieving process.

A representative ADF contingent participated in the ceremony by placing floral tributes in the pool of reflection as well as rekindling relationships with victims and family members.

The contingent included ADF chaplains who developed and conducted the service, Defence personnel who were injured in the blast, those who rendered immediate assistance as well as those who were subsequently deployed as a part of Operation Bali Assist.

The chaplains provided vital pastoral support from day one to blast victims, families and the ADF personnel who participated in the operation. The chaplains' efforts have been an ongoing process over the past 12 months, which culminated in their critical participation in the Bali Memorial Service as both pastoral carers and family contact officers.

Whilst the padres work is often understated, their important role in the organisation has been widely acknowledged on a number of occasions.

This point was amplified by many Australian government agencies, and when in the planning stages for the Bali Memorial Service, ADF Chaplaincy support was quickly requested.

Senior Chap Richard Thompson, Navy's Systems Command, led the service assisted by chaplains of the other two Services plus leaders of religious denominations represented in Bali.

Despite the mayhem and confusion that surrounded the night of October 12, 2002, Capt Rodney Cocks, who was holidaying at the time, rendered first aid to a number of people and assisted in their transportation to the local medical facility.

His efforts typified the immediate, selfless and professional response rendered by other ADF personnel both holidaying in Bali or working in the Indonesian Archipelago at the time.

It was his role to coordinate the ADF support which primarily consisted of aeromedical evacuations of the critically injured from the bombings.

"The ceremony was the culmination of what's been a busy couple of days for our team on the ground," he said.

"Many of the personnel who worked so closely with me at the time have spent the last few days catching up with victims and families.

"I think it was particularly beneficial for all members of the team - as well as myself.

"A year later and a lot of water has gone under the bridge - but this is something we'll never forget.

"As one lady said to me on the day of the service - it was good to see the ADF uniforms there - it was both comforting and also an opportunity to be able to express gratitude for the work of the ADF."

The moving ceremony gave those present the opportunity to listen to words from the Prime Minister, John Howard, the Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs and Danny Hanley, senior, who tragically lost two daughters in the blasts.

In the words of one digger, "I needed to come back. I needed to see Bali the way it used to be.

"I needed to see the Balinese people happy again - we need to show the people who did this we won't be beaten."

Conspicuous Service Cross
Maj David John Read
For outstanding achievement in the performance of duty as a Medical Specialist carrying out lifesaving procedures at the airport in Denpasar without the normal range of equipment or anaesthetic during Op Bali Assist.

Capt Alasdair John Stehouwer
For outstanding achievement in the performance of duty through providing linguistic services to facilitate liaison between the AFP and Indonesian authorities following the Bali bombings in October 2002, and for tireless service to families of the victims through understanding and support at the time of victim identification.

Maj Jonathan Nathanael Steinbeck
For outstanding achievement during the Bali bombing crisis in October 2002 in providing ADF liaison to the Head of Defence Staff-Jakarta, to facilitate evacuation plans for Australians, and in the establishment of professional procedures at the Sanglah Hospital Morgue, Denpasar.

Col Neil Leonard Thompson
For outstanding achievement in effectively coordinating the evacuation of injured personnel from Bali to Australia as part of Op Bali Assist.

Lt-Col Susan Kaye Winter
For outstanding achievement in the provision of exceptional medical care to critically injured victims of the bombings as the Specialist Medical Officer to Op Bali Assist.

Capt Rodney Damon Cocks
For outstanding service in the provision of immediate first aid and assistance in the evacuation of the many injured following the Bali Bombings in October 2002, and for providing crucial information that enabled the ADF and UN to plan for medical teams and evacuation teams.

Chap Haydn Michele Swinbourn
For outstanding service in the provision of pastoral support to families and friends of missing and deceased, assistance to next of kin in the identification of loved ones, and pastoral support to deployed members of Op Bali Assist.