Remembering Bali: UOW student reflects on loss

Oct 12, 2005

It was three years ago today that UOW PhD student, Georgia Lysaght, lost her brother Scott in the 2002 Bali bombings.

Her old wounds were torn open following the latest spate of bombings in Bali and the tragedy inspired her to talk to the media yesterday (Tuesday 11 October) about the death of her brother and her empathy and compassion for those Australians and Indonesians who have been affected.

“My family and I are still going through a lot of suffering and miss Scott terribly. However we have also been able to move forward and reflect on the positives and the wonderful times we had with him,” she said.

Georgia, who is studying a PhD on the political economy in Indonesia and Malaysia, said that understanding the Indonesian people has helped her deal with her grief.

“What struck me was how the Indonesian people were apologetic after the attacks and all had this idea that Australians hated them. I think it is so important for both countries to begin to understand each other as neighbours.”

Scott, a civil engineering graduate from UOW, and four of his team mates from the Komodos Rugby team died when a series of bombs ripped through the Sari Club and Paddy's Bar. The 33-year-old Wollongong resident had been living as an expatriate in Jakarta with his wife Melissa and 11-month-old daughter Madeleine. He had been working for International SOS -- a medical and security assistance company, providing medical and emergency services, health care, evacuation and repatriation services.

“I think it's important that people remember that this happened to individuals and families. I feel like the 2002 bombings are often spoken about as an attack on Australia as a country…but it was an attack on real people and also on Indonesians,” said Georgia.

Georgia travels to Indonesia regularly for her studies and out of personal interest.

“I have an affinity with the place and the people and always will. I hope to work in Jakarta upon the completion of my studies.”

She was also in Indonesia to observe the trials of the accused bombers and said the experience helped her realise that being angry with them was futile if the bombers did not care about their own fate. She learned to move past her anger and frustration because it could not change what had happened. She instead chooses to focus on keeping Scott's memory alive.

“I love things like the memorial at Coogee, the paintings at Bondi and the other beautiful places that people have created where we can go to sit and reflect, sometimes to laugh and other times to cry.”

-RP