The Bali Memorial held last Friday was an opportunity to remember, reflect and renew.

As I recover from an illness that unfortunately was manifesting itself last week I take pleasure in reporting on the Bali Memorial held last Friday at St Augustine’s Anglican Church at Unley and then onto the Memorial at Unley Oval.

I was asked by one of my colleagues in Council what is achieved by holding a ten year memorial.

This question was answered last Friday for all to see. The service which, as a Warden at St Augustine’s, I prompted with Sturt FC Matt Benson last year was an opportunity for the Sturt Footy Club to remember and pay respect for those they lost 10 years ago. It was an opportunity to reunite the Church and the Club after the Church’s then Priest Rev. Brenton Daulby provided Pastoral Care to the Club.

It was a chance for members of the club remember their colleagues.

As it turned out it was an opportunity for the State to remember, with the Governor, the Premier, the Leader of the Opposition, the local Federal Member, the local State Member all attending the service at St Augustine’s and to lay wreathes at the Memorial at Unley Oval.

As the instigator of this event I felt a great sense of satisfaction that it was right to have suggested it.

Some 250 people attended the service.

I saw ex players who were in Bali swept up by the emotion and showing thanks for the opportunity to remember their mates. I saw the bond of people who endured a catastrophic event together. I saw the strength of an ex-player Julian Burton who reflected on how the Bali bombings changed the direction of his life.

Thanks go to Rev’d Peter Chilver of St Augustine’s who conducted the service, the Rev’d Brenton Daulby in returning home to St Augustine’s gave a sermon that put everything into perspective. I thank also Peta Treloar at the Club who put in tireless hours putting the logistics together and to Nick Swinlger for his energy likewise.

Thanks go to my fellow Councillor Michael Saise, who wrote and sang a song dedicated to the high of Grand Final win that year and the subsequent tragedy, and to the girls of the Walford Girls School band.

Thanks go also to Ian Haddy who controlled the audio and rang the bells, and to Bevan Lawry on Video.

And to anyone else who helped. You made a difference to many.