Raindrops were mixed with tears as the lives of 88 Australians killed during the Bali bombings 20 years ago, were remembered in a moving service by a Sydney beach.
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Hundreds of people gathered in the rain at Coogee on a windswept headland named Dolphin Point in honour of six mates killed during the attacks.
Survivors sat alongside politicians, including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet and Indonesian Consular General Vedi Kurnia.
They wiped away tears of lives lost, friendships missed, but there were also moments of joy and laughter.
Remembering Chloe Byron
David Byron spoke about his 15-year-old daughter Chloe who was killed during the attacks while on holiday.
He wore a bright Hawaiian print shirt on stage and reminisced how Chloe had told him never to wear it because she didn't like the print. He wears it once a year, on the anniversary of his daughter's death.
Chloe had been on a trip to Bali with her mum. There were five mothers and five daughters on a mother-daughter trip.
Her mother was the only mother to survive and Chloe was the only daughter to die.
The other four 15-year-old daughters survived, but they all lost their mother.
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Remembering Gerard Yeo
Gerard Yeo was among the six Coogee Dolphins players to die during the attacks, and his brother Paul Yeo spoke of how much he missed his brother.
The boys from Dubbo in NSW's Central West loved sport and Paul reminisced about how during one game of backyard cricket Gerard suddenly disappeared.
"You'd hear 'where's Gez' [Gerard]," Paul said. "He'd yell back from inside 'I'm inside making pancakes' and that name stuck with him when he moved to Coogee, he was known as Pancakes among the Coogee Dolphins Leagues Club."
The brothers should have been in Bali together, but with a baby on the way Paul stayed in Australia.
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Remembering Ben Roberts
Jan Roberts walked purposefully to the stage with a wooden stick in hand. "I'm Ben's mum," she said.
Ben Roberts was among 43 people from NSW to die during the terror attacks in Bali.
The 28-year-old was in the Sari Club and while he survived the initial blast, he suffered horrific injuries and lived for another 26 days before succumbing to his injuries.
"For a couple of days he was able to speak to us and he said to me 'Mum, could you get me a McDonald's egg and bacon McMuffin'," she said as a quiet giggle erupted in the crowd.
Finally the stick, Mrs Roberts said when Ben was nine years old he made it for her and it is inscribed with the word 'Mum'.
"I will always be Ben's Mum," she said as she left the stage.
In an emotional speech, Mr Albanese said the attack had been a calculated one of malice and depravity, and 20 years had not dimmed the ache.
"For most of us what happened on that fateful night is beyond imagining," he said
"The sudden terrible light, followed by the sudden terrible darkness. The awful postscript of fire."
Among the victims were local workers, alongside Australians from sporting teams celebrating the end of their season - including members of the Kingsley Football Club, Forbes Rugby Club, Southport Sharks, Dulwich Hill Newtown Basketball Club and Coogee Dolphins.
The terrorists failed in their aim because they struck at the very heart of the Australian identity - "the great fabric of dreams and ideals and compassion and fairness that make us who we are as Australians", Mr Albanese said.
"All the very worst of circumstances brought out the very best in people. It brought out compassion, selflessness, it brought out heroism.
"They struck at the joy of a free people."
Mr Perrottet said the terrorists who targeted the Sari Club failed in their goal to instil fear and create division.
"In the aftermath of the attack, we witnessed an outpouring of kindness, courage and hope for all Australians," he said.
The anniversary would forever belong to the survivors and first responders who helped in the aftermath of the bombing, Mr Perrottet said.
"Although all of us may remember that day - we cannot even begin to imagine what it feels like to you," he said.
Towards the end of the service, the names of 43 people from NSW and one Tasmanian were read out.
Then, 88 doves (white pigeons) were released. They circled and circled in the air above before flying south towards their home in Kurnell. It took them 30 minutes to make the journey.
Finally, flowers were laid at the Bali Memorial Sculpture on the windswept headland as the rain kept falling.
Memories in the sand
A lone sculptor was working on the beach in the early hours creating an artwork to remember 88 Australians.
Steve Machell had been working since sunrise on the sand sculpture, which depicted a set of hands cradling a dove, representing peace, love and unity and was part of the service.
On the 10th anniversary of the Bali bombings, a sand sculpture was created in Kuta.
The sculptures represent Australia's ongoing relationship with the people of Indonesia and acknowledges the loss of life of many Indonesians as a result of the bombings.
Coogee Beach is in Randwick City Council area which was among the hardest hit during the 2002 bombings, with 20 of its residents dying in the attacks.
Elsewhere in Australia commemorative services took place to mark the anniversary.
A memorial service was also held at Parliament House in Canberra, with Australian flags to be flown at half mast across the country.
A dawn service was also held at Kings Park in Perth.
- with Australian Associated Press
- Support is available for those who may be distressed. Phone Lifeline 13 11 14 or beyondblue 1300 224 636.
Nadine Morton
I report on crime, emergency services and police matters. Email me on nadine.morton@austcommunitymedia.com.au
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