Sad revelation at Bali ceremony

Air Force padres Squadron Leaders Ian Whitley and Pat Woods, and Senior Chaplain Headquarters Logistic Support Force Ron Peacock at the memorial service in Bali. Photo by CPL Darren Hilder

By LACW Simone Liebelt and Greg Hughes

AS the names of the victims were read out at the first anniversary memorial service in Bali on October 12, Nursing Officer Squadron Leader Sally Scott was shaken to hear some of the patients she had treated had not survived.

Having attended to many of the injured during Operation Bali Assist, SQNLDR Scott could still remember the jovial comments made by the young Australians who couldn’t wait to go home. She assumed they had all recovered from their injuries, but the realisation was devastating.

Returning to Bali for the first anniversary of the bombings, SQNLDR Scott said it was like piecing together a puzzle in the healing process. She shared her experiences with survivors, family members and those who helped on the ground.

Seeing the photographs of the victims brought home the reality that they were healthy young Australians, while visiting the sites of the Sari and Paddy clubs put her in their shoes for just a moment.

“It was a very emotive time and an extremely humbling experience to be among all the people who were involved,” SQNLDR Scott said.

“There were so many comments from the survivors and their families that they felt secure and relieved that we had come to take them home.

“To know that they thought we did a great job and did the best we could was a very important part of the healing process.

“I now feel very calm in myself and can finally let go.”

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 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 Army Attache in Jakarta at the time of the explosions, Colonel Neil Thompson, said a woman had told him “it was good to see the ADF uniforms there [at the memorial service]; it was both comforting and also an opportunity to be able to express gratitude for the work of the ADF”.

Among those to speak at the ceremony was Mr Danny Hanley, who lost two daughters in the blasts.

In the words of one ADF member, “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.”

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