Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the “ache hasn’t dimmed” for Australians two decades on from the Bali bombings, describing them as acts of terror and cowardice.
The nation is commemorating the 202 people killed—including 88 Australians—when extremists detonated bombs near popular nightclubs in Kuta on October 12, 2002.
Images of death and debris still haunt the memory of families who lost loved ones.
Albanese will attend a memorial at the Coogee Dolphins Rugby League Club in Sydney, from which 11 players travelled to Bali, but only five made it home.
“The ache hasn’t dimmed from that 20 years on,” he told ABC RN on Wednesday.
“The shock waves from Bali certainly reached our shores, 88 Australians lost their lives in this act of terror and cowardice.
“For a tragedy to strike as it did there ... reverberated right around our nation that we weren’t free from terror.”
The Prime Minister said the bombings “really, really shook Australians up”.
Dale Atkin was one of the more than 200 wounded, and the journey back has pushed him to his limits.
What should’ve been a carefree night at the Sari Club ended with burns to almost half his body. They were half a cricket ball deep, and his chances of survival slim.
The roof of the Bali hut collapsed on him and his friends, forcing them to crawl out surrounded by fire and debris.
“I will always pay my respects to the people who died however it could have been much worse,” said Atkin, who is now 47.
It took him more than a decade to see a counsellor and be diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.
He was also plagued by survivor’s guilt.
“I wasn’t fine. I could tell you where every single flame was in detail as I was reliving it every day,” he said.
His wife Katie, and three children became the motivation he needed to pull himself from the depths of despair.
Two decades on, he’s still encouraging others affected by the traumatic event to speak up and get help.
“I want everyone to know there’s no shame in it,” Atkin said.
Commemorative services will take place across the nation for the anniversary.
A memorial service will be held at Parliament House in Canberra, with Australian flags to be flown at half-mast across the country.
A twilight service will be conducted at Allambie Memorial Park on the Gold Coast, featuring a bronze plaque listing the names of the 88 lost.
Among them are Robert Thwaites, whose parents initiated the Indonesian-style memorial after he was killed in the bombings.
His father, Geoff said the memory had become no easier, 20 years on.
“Bob was 25. He had a bright future ahead of him,” he said.
“It doesn’t change how you feel, but time gets away from you.”
