The end of 2002 was supposed to be a time of celebration for the Kingsley Football Club, but instead seven of their own were killed in a terror attack in Bali.
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The club from Perth had a great season, their league and reserve teams had made the grand final, and on blizzard-like conditions the reserves had won.
The boys had decided to top off a good season with an end-of-year trip to Bali, and players Anthony Stewart and Jason Stokes had done most of the organising.
They players were ready to celebrate and there was 20 were going on the trip. Kevin Paltridge, the father of player Corey Paltridge, chauffeured the boys from the local pub to the airport in his limousine.
Once they arrived in the tourist hot-spot of Kuta, they checked into the Bounty Hotel and spent the afternoon swimming and lounging around with a drink.
After a group dinner they headed to the Sari Club. It was full of young people from right across the world, there was music, dancing and celebration.
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Then, just after 11pm on this busy Saturday night the bombs were detonated.
The first was inside Paddy's Bar just 40 metres up the road from where they were. Then, 15 seconds later, a van packed with 1.2 tonnes of explosives, that was parked outside the Sari Club, was detonated.
Terror followed as a fireball exploded through the club and the streets. The blasts left 202 people, including 88 Australians, dead.
Seven Kingsley Football Club members died in the explosions - Dean Gallagher (Deano), Jason Stokes (Stokesy), Byron Hancock (Byza), Corey Paltridge, David Ross (Baldy), Jonathon Wade (Jono) and Anthony Stewart.
Club captain Phil Britton and Laurie Kerr were left with severe burns and were airlifted to Australia for medical treatment.
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The remaining 11 Kingsley survivors were offered a flight straight out of Bali, but they declined. They couldn't leave without knowing what happened to their mates.
"They chose to stay and search for their seven missing teammates, hoping against hope that they would be found alive in a hospital somewhere," the club said.
"When this failed, they searched the morgues looking for the bodies of their mates."
Days later the 11 players still refused to fly home separately, they were a team after all.
When businessman Kerry Stokes, who had no affiliation with the club, heard of their plight, he sent his private jet to Bali to fly them home together.
In the aftermath of the attacks, the club fundraised to build new clubrooms to honour their mates who had been killed.
While local community members and businesses made donations for the new clubrooms to be built, so too did Kerry Stokes.
On show in a display case in the memorial area is a brick, ashes and soil from the Sari Club.
"Alongside is an electric candle. This candle was lit by the club president at the time, Brian Anderson and was not extinguished until all our boys had been returned. It remained lit for several difficult weeks," the club said.
One year after the Bali bombings, club member Ben Clohessy was one of 19 Western Australians who received an honour for their bravery in the aftermath of the Bali bombings.
He was awarded the Star of Courage for rescuing several people from the Sari Club after he was knocked unconscious by the blast.
To mark the 20th anniversary of the Bali bombings, the club held a Legends Game on October 7, with two teams of former club members and players.
Support is available for those who may be distressed. Phone Lifeline 13 11 14 or beyondblue 1300 224 636.
- For the boys was first told by the Kingsley Football Club.
Nadine Morton
I report on crime, emergency services and police matters. Email me on nadine.morton@austcommunitymedia.com.au
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