September 2002 - Annette Culpan

Kuta Remembrance Week is nearly upon us. Hard to believe that come October 12th one year will have passed since two terrorist bombs killed and maimed hundreds in the tourist district of Kuta - at the same time shaking up the entire world and beginning a chain of events that would eventually lead me to the shores and remote villages of Bali.

I have been flat out preparing New Zealand events for the anniversary, from luncheons, street appeals and speaking engagements to the main event – the commemoration and auction evening.

I have been truly inspired by the support shown. Items donated for auction range from Vodafone Silver Ferns merchandise, to aged whiskeys and art. I aimed to have 25 items for auction and today we hit 28. It's great to feel this support from the NZ, Bali and Australian community.

It all seems to be coming together. We're getting a load of attention from the media, which has got to be a good thing – this anniversary is one that should not be forgotten.

I feel like a yo-yo this month, from NZ to Bali to Ubud to Medewi to Seminyak to Northern Villages and back to NZ. The rollercoaster is not slowing down and I'm sure that when I look back I'll swear it was the ride of my life.

Last week I joined the team on a mobile clinic up to Suka Dana, just for one night but it's great to get another taste of village life.

One success we had was with a little girl who came in deaf and ended up having her ears syringed and cleared. It was great to finally see her smile. It is these moments that make it easy to follow the advice of Winston Churchill - “Never give up. Never give up. Never give up”

Given that we are coming up to Kuta Remembrance Week, I would like to finish with a message of peace issued by the village councils after the terrorist attacks:

“The past is not significant it is the future which is important. This is the time to bring our values, our empathy, to society and to the world at large. To care. To love. We want to return to our lives. Please help us realise this wish. We have a concept in Bali , Ruwa Bhineda, a balance between good and bad. Without bad there can be no good. The bad is the sibling of the good. Embrace this concept and we can move forward into a better world.

“There is Sekala/ nisikala – the underworld forever in darkness merging with our world in the light. These are the concepts by which we as Balinese live our lives. Please we beg you talk only of the good, which can come of this. Talk of how we can reconcile our apparent differences. Talk of how we can bring empathy and love into everybody's lives.

“If we can love all of our brothers and sisters we have already begun to move into Kertha Yuga (Golden Age). We have already won the War Against Terrorism. Thank you for all your compassion and love.”

Annette

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