Walking into the valley of death

Many Defence personnel have been affected by the Bali bombings – from embassy staff, people on holidays who volunteered and the AME teams. Reporter Cpl Jonathan Garland spoke to Army personnel involved in the aftermath of the terrorist attack.

Dealing with chaos and panic
AUSTRALIAN Army Attache to Jakarta Col Neil Thompson received a call from the embassy late on Saturday night and, with his assistant WO2 Bryson Keenan, left for Bali on the first available morning flight.

7 November 2002

Not exactly a holiday
HUSBAND and wife Trent and Emily Mongan, both Army lieutenants, won a trip to Bali in a raffle and first learnt of the explosions on Sunday morning.

7 November 2002

Speed of response saved lives
WO2 Brett Campbell, Defence administrative assistant at the Jakarta Embassy, was taking part in the Bali 10s rugby competition and was alerted to the explosion by a phone call at about 12.30am.

7 November 2002

Providing prayer
CHAPLAIN Haydn Swinbourn flew to Bali on Sunday night to minister and offer what comfort he could to those involved in the bomb blasts, their families and friends.

7 November 2002

Helping the helpers
FOLLOWING the events in Bali, the embassy in Jakarta requested psychological support for those members closely involved in the bombing and its aftermath.

7 November 2002

Sheer pandemonium
CAPT Jonathan Steinbeck and his wife were holidaying in Bali and had just gone to bed when they heard an explosion and the lights outside the hotel went out.

7 November 2002