Staff and survivors reflect on Bali bombings 20 years on

Dale had been in Bali less than eight hours, enjoying the beginnings of an end of year football trip when a bomb detonated at the Sari club, just five metres from where he was sitting.

Dale managed to crawl out of the wreckage and was transported to a local hospital in a garbage truck.

After being stabilised, he was flown home to Australia and The Alfred for specialist care.

Suffering severe burns to 43 per cent of his body, he was told his chance of survival was only 30 per cent.

On the 20th anniversary since the bombing, Dale, now married with children and a successful real estate agent, stood in front of The Alfred able to reflect on his remarkable journey.

“I’m just so grateful to be here I can’t thank the people who helped me enough,” he said.

“This place was a big part of my life for seven weeks.”

Alfred Health burns specialist Yvonne Singer worked closely with Dale during his recovery and said seeing the wonderful life he’s built for himself in the years since his stay at The Alfred triggered an incredible feeling.

“I always remembered Dale as the guy with the bleached blond hair and often wondered what he’d been up to over the past 20 years, I’m just so happy to see him doing so well,” Yvonne said.

“He always used to crack funny jokes which really lightened the mood at one of the most adverse times I can remember… he’s got that great Aussie spirit.”

That sense of spirit and determination to help is something The Alfred’s then head of emergency Professor Mark Fitzgerald remembers distinctly.

“It was an amazing time… I’d certainly never seen anything like it,” Mark said.

“Everyone just wanted to help… we even had relatives of other patients putting their own grief aside and telling us to do what we needed to help those coming in.

“We learned a lot from the experience… it made a big difference to the big events we had to deal with over the next twenty years.”

Victorian Adults Burns Service director Professor Heather Cleland said burns required highly specialised, intensive care.

“Everybody did go above and beyond ... to make sure that despite the great increase in clinical workload, people got the best care they could,” she said.

“Several of the Bali patients transferred to us had extremely severe burns combined with blast injuries.”

Another patient, Lynley Huguenin credited the care she received for fast tracking her recovery.

“Despite it being the most challenging of times, I remember the staff at The Alfred being so fun,” Lynley said.

“I’m actually still friends with a nurse – Vicky – who really went above and beyond. We realised she lived close to me and was able to stop by and help me change my bandages, which meant I was able to get home a lot quicker than I otherwise would have.

“From that point on I didn’t look back. I’m now married with four children and live in Bali… we ironically operate a number of bars and restaurants here.

“I came back to Bali pretty soon after the attacks to re-establish my position here. It’s all well and truly past me.”

Hana Menezes was an ICU nurse in 2002 and while she says it was a confronting time, seeing stories of triumph like Dale and Lynley’s was hugely satisfying.

“Seeing patients later on, when they’ve really gotten back into life... it’s just this warm and fuzzy feeling that maybe you contributed a little bit to that,” Hana said.