Resilience, Bali links marked in Canberra

12 Oct 2012, 12:37 pm   -   Source: AAP
The nation's capital remembers those lost in the 2002 terrorist bombings in Bali. (AAP)

The nation's capital remembers those lost in the 2002 terrorist bombings in Bali. (AAP)

More than 400 people have gathered at Parliament House in Canberra to mark the 10th anniversary of the first Bali bombing.

Tributes have been offered to the resilience of Australians and strong links now built with Indonesia at the national service to mark 10 years since the first Bali bombing.

The bombs which ripped through two Bali nightclubs on October 12, 2002, killed 202 people including 88 Australians.

The service in federal parliament's Great Hall, which included people caught up in the event, politicians, diplomats, religious leaders and former governors-general, powerfully combined music from a Bali Gamelan orchestra with projected images of the victims.

"An act of barbarism changed everything," Governor-General Quentin Bryce said of the attacks.

In thanking all those who helped in the aftermath of the bombings and offering her condolences to those who lost loved ones, Ms Bryce said: "Our Australian spirit is strong, it is resilient."

Frangipani and wattle symbolised the ties between the two countries, with those at the service putting posies of the two flowers on a national memorial wreath.

"This morning the waft of frangipani and wattle bloom connects our two people and places," Ms Bryce said.

Former Australian of the Year Fiona Wood, who was honoured for her work with burns patients at the Royal Perth Hospital after the blasts, spoke at the service of the "privilege" of helping 28 of those injured.

Amid the "horror" there had been wonderful stories of courage and determination.

"I see within those hearts, resilience that is inspirational, love that is selfless and an energy ... across Australia in all sorts of areas," Dr Wood said.

"All you have to do is look for it and to connect with it and it will grow."

Acting prime minister Chris Evans said Bali was a place of beauty, art and culture and home to a warm and loving people where many Australians, including his own family, holidayed.

Australians would always remember the day just as Americans remembered September 11, 2001, Senator Evans said.

"What was a terrible day of shared grief for Indonesia and Australia became a day of great shared resolve - resolve to defeat terrorism, resolve to see the perpetrators brought to justice, resolve to defend democracy and tolerance."

Deputy opposition leader Julie Bishop reminded the service the innocent civilians caught up in the Bali bombing came from 22 nations, making it an event for the world to remember.

She quoted English poet William Blake who wrote: "Joy and woe are woven fine, a clothing for the soul divine. Under every grief and pine, runs a joy with silk and twine."

Indonesian embassy charge d'affaires Wiwiek Setyawati Firman said all Indonesians felt anger "as to why this happened and why this happened in Bali".

"Ten years on the pain of the loss still remains and we will remember them forever," she said.

"But no single act of terror can weaken our bonds of friendship nor diminish our common resolve to fight terror in all the world."

Services were held in capital cities across the country.

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