Articles from 2002
Tribute to bomb victims
The Sun-Herald | October 20, 2002
But last week, the message on Nikki Webster's phone was the worst possible: Robyn and Kristie had been in Bali when the bomb blast occurred. Robyn, 45, of Marrickville, died in the explosion and Kristie was badly burnt.
Today, at the Australians Together tribute in The Domain, Webster sang Somewhere Over The Rainbow to honour the family she has known since birth, and to acknowledge their terrible suffering since last weekend.
"It will definitely be emotional, but I'm doing it for them," Webster said before the event yesterday. "I'm doing it to tell them how much I love them.
We all need to try and help the families who have lost people, because they just don't know what to do. I mean, some of the bodies haven't even been found.
"It's so terrible."
Nikki Webster was not related to the Webster family holidaying in Bali, but they have been close family friends since she was born.
She attended preschool with Kristie and the two Webster families have often shared birthday celebrations, family barbecues and other events.
"They were just the nicest people, it was a great family," said Nikki Webster.
After desperately waiting for updates from Bali last week, the 15-year-old singer now realises her mum's longtime friend, Robyn Webster, is dead.
Her teenage friend, Kristie, is back in Australia with severe burns to parts of her body.
"Playing the song [at the ceremony] is a way of trying to repay something, some of that pain," said Nikki Webster.
It's unlikely she will be the only performer at the Australians Together tribute who has been directly affected by the Bali tragedy.
So many Australians have been shocked and saddened by the sudden loss of people they knew.
The non-religious ceremony at The Domain today was organised to unite Australians in mourning. Many of the tributes were musical, featuring leading artists including Kasey Chambers, John Farnham and Iva Davies.
Farnham performed Amazing Grace, while Chambers sang Million Tears. Actor Bryan Brown recited Dorothea Mackellar's poem My Country.
The Australians Together ceremony was hosted by the ABC's Geraldine Doogue. It was screened live on the ABC and SBS.
"We believe that today's event can go someway to show strength and support for the victims and their families," said John Farnham.
The national day of mourning for Bali victims will continue into the evening, with a fundraising telethon and tribute, screening on Channel 7 from 6.30pm.
High-profile stars including Russell Crowe and Kylie Minogue have contributed messages of condolence, alongside messages from British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Sir Bob Geldof.
"As an Australian and as a world citizen, I'm devastated by the recent events in Bali," said Minogue. "My thoughts and my love are with the victims and their families at this time."
Geldof said the people of Ireland and England were sharing in the pain of Australians.
"I would like to convey an understanding that the rest of the world will do whatever it can to take Australia through its moment of sorrow, " he said.
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