15 years and 15 kilograms on…from the Bali Bombings 2002
Fifteen years ago today terrorists detonated bombs in and near a nightclub in Kuta, Bali. I was 15 kilograms heavier then. The Bali Bombings 2002 terrorists and their support network and their evil ideology killed 202 people, 88 of whom were Australian. More people were injured and many have been left with permanent scars and disabilities. When I see former patients from the Royal Darwin Hospital on TV I can still remember of them and the condition they were in when they arrived.
The good news is the terrorists were executed (I do not write this lightly). The relationship between Australia and Indonesia is stronger (this is a good thing). We have the National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre which is a shining example of how to set up a centre of excellence for trauma and critical care (this is an excellent thing). Sadly the evil terrorist support network still exists and the evil ideology behind persists (this sucks).
I hope the NT News doesn’t mind that I’ve posted a photograph from today’s issue in this blog post.
I’ve shared a few e-mails today with my good friend, Prof. Len Notaras, AM about what happened back then. Back then I was 100 kg and now I’m 85 kg, so 15 years and 15 kilograms…
I hope a similar disaster never occurs again. I wish the world was a safer and more peaceful place. Sadly in the history of sapiens, we’ve spent more time in conflict than in peace. I truly hope we evolve more rapidly into peace-keeping people so this sort of barbarism can be a thing for us to read in history books.
If you want to read my memory of what happened please check out this link The Royal Darwin Hospital and the Bali Bombings 2002. It’s hard to believe it’s been 15 years since the Bali Bombings 2002.
Well done on your role Gary in Darwin; a very tough job. I recall reading one of your earlier posts about what you and others did. It was fabulous that our commissioner signed an MoU with the Indonesian National Police the month before in Perth that afforded us the opportunity to be on a flight immediately after and then assist for many years with the investigation and DVI. I’d love to say something like this won’t happen again but I don’t have that crystal ball (unfortunately)
The role of law enforcement, especially the forensic capability in the AFP is amazing and so important in events like this as well as natural disasters. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting some of the federal agents and state police who assisted with forensic investigations and DVI associated with the Bali Bombings and the Great Indian Ocean Tsunami in 2004 and always feel in awe of their capability and capacity to absorb such horrific scenes.
Lovely to hear we have left a good impression Gary. Our Forensics people are pretty special I agree. Amazing people.
It’s lead to a lasting professional relationship with some colleagues 😃
sobering- also intriguing how you put your 15 with this 15.
I think it’s because I’ve been focussed on my weight lately and I know back then I was 100 kg. The photograph made it fairly obvious, I was fuller in the face then.
Thank you for such an informative summary of what occurred at that dreadful time in our history. The list of those who received awards is humbling to read.
Thank you very much. Hopefully it will never happen again.