Bali blast victim flies again

Julian Burton gives the thumbs up to his flight with the Roulettes. Photo by CPL Peter Borys

By Deanna Nott

Champion South Australian footballer and Bali survivor Julian Burton is used to flying high when taking marks on the field but lately he’s been spending more time in the clouds with the Air Force.

Last October Julian was treated aboard an Air Force Hercules following the tragic Bali terrorist attacks.

Recently he again took to the skies with the Air Force aboard a Roulettes’ PC-9 aircraft to help launch the ADF’s involvement in the Clipsal 500 V8 Supercar Race in Adelaide from March 20-23.

“The last time I flew with the Air Force was certainly under different circumstances,” said Julian, who suffered burns to 21 per cent of his body when the Sari Nightclub was bombed.

“Flying with the Roulettes is a once in a lifetime opportunity and being here gives me the chance to thank the Defence Force publicly for everything they did for me.

“The professionalism and the unselfish attitude of the Australian Defence Force personnel was second to none.

“I realise that they are employed to do this sort of work, but I believe that without the military retrieval there would have been a lot more casualties. The way they came in, swiftly moved people out and the way they conducted themselves was amazing.

“They went beyond the call, in my opinion. For instance, they made phone calls back to my family in Australia to keep them updated.”

Julian told media and invited guests at the launch that the Defence Force helped save his life.

“If it wasn’t for them, my health could have been in a vastly different situation.”

Julian enjoyed his Roulette flight, but “after three loops I was starting to feel a little unwell … it’s obvious that the guys are absolute professionals and totally focused when flying”.

Before his flight, Julian and Royal Adelaide Hospital Burns Unit Director John Greenwood launched The Julian Burton Burns Trust.

Julian, who spent four weeks in the hospital’s burns unit, decided to establish the charity as a way of giving something back to the community.

Mr Greenwood, who also enjoyed a flight with the Roulettes, operated on Julian immediately after the Bali attacks and has assisted him during his recuperation.

Before Julian returned to Adelaide, he was treated in Darwin by several Defence Reservists, including anaesthetist Air Commodore Roger Capps, intensive care specialist Colonel Toby Thomas and trauma expert Wing Commander Bill Griggs, who all work at the Royal Adelaide Hospital.

In addition to the Roulettes, this year’s V8 race involved flypasts by the Aircraft Research and Development Unit’s F/A-18 Hornet and Maritime Patrol Group’s AP-3C Orion, and displays from the Airfield Defence Guards.

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