Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
Showing posts with label family. Show all posts

Saturday, October 13, 2012

Taken too soon: Hardy family revisit Bali nightmare

Story by Kieran Ricketts, camera by Leonard King

Updated October 12, 2012 13:34:54

Billy Hardy was 20 years old when he and his Gold Coast AFL team-mates boarded a plane from Brisbane Airport to Bali in October, 2002.

Unlike the rest of his team-mates, the young man from Tweed Heads, New South Wales, would never return from that trip - and his family and friends have never come to terms with his death in Bali's Sari nightclub.

Watch the video story in full here, or watch it in segments below as you read the full story.

"It was really hard to say goodbye [the last night we were together]," said Billy's sister, Jessica - best known as the blonde-haired provocateur from early episodes of reality television franchise Big Brother.

"I don't know why I had this sense of knowing. I just wished I'd have stopped him," she said.

Jayson Pate, a team-mate of Billy's who played alongside him with the Southport Sharks AFL club, organised the trip to Bali.

"I remember visiting the Sari Club site with Bill Hardy senior and the boys [after the bombing] and just shedding many tears," Mr Pate said.

"I think that's what I needed most - to say sorry to [Mr Hardy]. I know it's a silly emotion to have."

Billy's parents, Bill and Christine Hardy, separated when their son was just two years old, but the family remained tight-knit.

Mr Hardy senior, who describes his son as "a rock" and his "idol", is also wrangling his own demons a decade on.

"The thing that probably irks me most is that he said to me 'Dad, do you want to drive me up to Brisbane tomorrow to catch the plane?" he says.

"I didn't drive him up there, not knowing what the consequences were going to be of that trip - and that's stuck with me right through to today."

Sister Jessica says that Billy "was the glue that stuck us all together".

"Whenever I was lost, he was the person I turned to," she said.

It was the seventh night of a 10-night trip for the Southport Sharks when the laid-back holiday spent whitewater rafting in Ubud and drinking Bintang turned into an apocalyptic scene.

"We were standing in quite a tight circle - having a drink, having a laugh," Jayson Pate said.

Watch Jayson Pate recount the events that saw him survive the bombing in full here.

"I remember hearing a bang - sounded like a firecracker, really - coming from across the road. But Bali being Bali - and being a Saturday night - it wouldn't be out of the ordinary for it to be a firecracker.

"I turned back to have a sip of my beer and it was just lights out. I actually thought I'd been buried alive.

"Panic struck in, and I threw everything off from on top of me. I just remember seeing fire down my left side where the bars were ... and just smoke and chaos.

"I do remember looking to the left and seeing what I thought was a car, which turned out to be the van, sitting in front of the Sari Club and just burning in flames.

"People [were] walking straight out from the front of the Sari Club on fire, hands outstretched, not being able to see where they were going."

Earlier that night, Christine Hardy's phone line had been cut as Telstra performed maintenance work.

"[Billy] had tried calling through. Now if he had still been on the phone, would he have missed it?" said Jessica.

"I don't know why he felt compelled that night to ring - but he called his mate Jase to say 'I can't get through to Mum's house - I don't know why - but tell them I love them'."

Billy's call to his best friend Jase Swain would be his last phone call.

"It was about 11:30pm. He told me he was having a great time, just heading out clubbing with some of his mates," Mr Swain said.

"He just said he missed me and couldn't wait to come home, but said he was having a great time. It was a pretty quick conversation. I woke up the next day and it didn't seem real."

Back in Bali, amid the chaos, Jayson Pate and his team-mates realised they were down a man.

"A couple of hours afterwards, everyone was able to meet up again and realise that we were missing Billy," Mr Pate said.

"We thought there was every chance that Billy could have been split off and was helping somebody else and ended up going one of the other directions away from the Sari Club.

The wait for definite news about Billy turned out to be a protracted, agonising experience for the Hardys.

Mr Hardy received word from the manager of Billy's football team while on a business trip in central Queensland.

"[The team manager] said 'there's been a bombing in Bali', and I thought 'oh well, a gas cylinder's exploded' or something like that," he said.

"But he just said 'turn the TV on and wait until we call you back".

Billy's team-mates each returned home with no further news of Billy's whereabouts, and a separate reconnaissance trip from an extended family member failed too.

Jessica and Bill Hardy eventually took matters into their own hands and visited Bali themselves.

"They hadn't cleaned up the site, even six weeks after. There were still beers - Bintang - on the bar, half drunk," Jessica said.

The father and daughter scoured Denpasar hospitals, hoping Billy had been overlooked by authorities and was still recovering.

"The conditions, with due respect, were pretty horrific. I mean, in Sanglah hospital ... I remember like it was yesterday - you had open drains running through," Mr Hardy said.

Things weren't any more promising at the makeshift Australian Federal Police headquarters.

Watch Bill Hardy senior describe his visit to the AFP's operation in Bali as he searched for Billy in full.

"We were the first to be allowed in," Mr Hardy said.

"They were analysing all the evidence and identifying people. We were taken there in an armed vehicle, had to go through all the security checks. They put on morning tea for us, and a lot of them knew Jessica from Big Brother.

"At that stage it could have taken up to another three months."

In a last desperate attempt, Bill and Jessica retraced Billy's steps during the last days of his holiday.

"We followed all of his movements. We went to where he stayed. We checked out where he'd been up in the hills in Ubud ... to experience what was maybe his last day," said Jessica.

But eventually resignation set in.

"Dad and I went out into the ocean. We cleansed ourselves and threw some of his items into the water. I just needed to break down in the whitewash," she said.

It was the day after their return home that Bill, Jessica and Christine Hardy received the crushing news Billy was never coming home.

"[The federal police] said I think you need to sit down - and then one of them broke the news and said they'd found Billy's body."

Mr Hardy says he "gave them a serve" because it was only after they made the effort to visit AFP headquarters did they receive an answer.

"They stood there and took it. But halfway through doing that something hit me. I thought, what am I doing?" Mr Hardy said.

"This is just out of bloody frustration and not wanting to hear what they've got to say. And I apologised."

Christine Hardy says it was "a relief" because the family could start to plan Billy's funeral.

In November, the Hardys and hundreds of others finally had the chance to say goodbye to Billy at a packed St Joseph's church in their hometown of Tweed Heads.

Jase Swain, Billy's friend since childhood, choked back tears as he said his final farewell.

"It is often said that you do not know what you have until you lose it. But we always knew what we had with you, Billy," he said.

As the pallbearers walked Billy's coffin to the hearse for its final goodbye - surrounded by a throng of photographers and camera crews - Jessica's brave public facade finally melted as she broke down on the concrete, and the hearse led Billy away to be cremated.

Mr Hardy watched the Indonesian justice system gradually deal with the men responsible for the Bali bombings, but says even after they were executed it brought him little solace.

"I didn't really want to think about them. I didn't really want to give them any of my energy.

"I can still see their faces, and if I'd have had the opportunity, I would have quite happily been there to hold the gun," he says.

"I've tried to find out why [the bombers] had these attitudes. But I can never forgive them," Jessica said.

"I can never forgive someone who robbed me of my brother and my relationship with him."

Christine Hardy says although she still "deals with it every day", she wants to stay strong to honour her son's memory.

"He was cheeky, smart, friendly, very caring - all the qualities you admire in a son. I was very lucky. Every day we told each other how much we loved each other. He was very loving and caring, and I was the same," she said.

"The irony is I feel like I'm missing limbs too since he's gone. I'm not a whole person either," Jessica said.

Jayson Pate hung up his footy boots in 2007, but says returning to the field after the bombing brought up "mixed emotions".

The pain remains most acute for Bill Hardy, who says he is constantly reminded of his son's loss.

"Will the 10-year anniversary make it any easier for my family or myself? Never," Mr Hardy said.

"You think about it every day one way or another. It'll never get any easier."

The Hardy family have returned to Bali for this year's decade commemoration service.

Tags: world-politics, terrorism, unrest-conflict-and-war, australian-football-league, human-interest, tweed-heads-2485, southport-4215, australia, bali

First posted October 11, 2012 11:46:17


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Viney, Daniher continue family traditions

Updated October 08, 2012 11:44:25

Melbourne has snared Jack Viney for a bargain and Joe Daniher will continue his family's remarkable tradition at Essendon under the AFL's father-son rule.

Lachie Hunter, who joined Western Bulldogs, was the other recruit in Monday's father-son bidding meeting.

The Bombers were forced to use their top pick in November's national draft, number 10 overall, but that was considered a good deal for tall forward Daniher, the son of Anthony, who played 115 matches for the club.

Joe will become the sixth Daniher to play for the Bombers, joining Anthony's brothers Terry, the 1984-85 premiership captain, Neale and Chris.

His brother Darcy was also at the club for four years before his career was cut short by injury in 2011.

"They've looked after my family for so many years and I'm looking to repay them for what they've done for my family and what they've done for me," Joe Daniher said.

The Demons had only to use their fourth draft pick, number 26 overall, to gain midfielder Viney, the son of Melbourne 233-gamer Todd, who is now on their recruiting staff.

Demons list manager Tim Harrington says they would have been prepared to use their top pick, number three, to snare Viney, who they had declared they wanted two years ago.

"We rated Jack at that pick at least and there's other clubs who would have rated him there or higher as well so we're just really thrilled," Harrington said.

Their top pick was not needed after Gold Coast, who had pick number two, decided not to bid for either Viney or Daniher.

The Suns instead traded their number two pick to Greater Western Sydney in exchange for the rights to draft exciting 17-year-old Jack Martin.

With the Demons having spent the past two years overseeing Viney's training program and the teenager spending this year with their VFL affiliate Casey, Harrington says he could step straight into senior football.

"The whole program this year was based around Jack getting prepared to play round one," Harrington said.

The deal left the Demons with picks number three, number four and number 13 available to assist their trade aims of snaring Collingwood pair Chris Dawes and Sharrod Wellingham, who has said he wants to join West Coast, and the Suns' Josh Caddy.

Hunter was drafted with the Bulldogs' pick number 46.

AAP

Tags: australian-football-league, sport, melbourne-3000

First posted October 08, 2012 11:34:10


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Tuesday, September 11, 2012

'Unique' McCarthy remembered fondly by family

Updated September 11, 2012 18:18:14

The family of AFL footballer John McCarthy has described the Port Adelaide midfielder as a "unique" and "precious" person.

McCarthy died in Las Vegas on Sunday (local time) after falling more than nine metres from the rooftop of the famous hotel and casino, The Flamingo.

The 22-year-old was holidaying in Las Vegas with several of his Power team-mates and had only arrived in the United States over the weekend.

He was found at 5:37am on Sunday and was pronounced dead less than an hour later at a hospital trauma centre.

The circumstances of McCarthy's death are still being investigated but the coroner's office in Las Vegas does not believe it is suspicious.

McCarthy's uncle, John Olle, spoke to the media on behalf of the family in the Victorian seaside town of Sorrento on Tuesday afternoon.

Mr Olle expressed gratitude to the "overwhelming flood of well wishes" following the death of his nephew.

He says McCarthy, who was known as Johnny among his family, was a young man of great character.

"A life does not attract a response of such magnitude unless it is truly worthy and the life of Johnny was," Mr Olle said.

"He was a unique, precious and loved young man."

McCarthy began his AFL career with Collingwood, having been recruited by the Magpies in the 2007 draft.

Mr Olle says McCarthy's reaction following his drafting spoke volumes about the person he was.

"He had some dear friends who weren't drafted. He spent the day with them, sharing their pain," he said.

McCarthy made his senior debut for the Magpies in 2008 but was de-listed by the club at the end of the 2011 season before linking up with the Power.

Mr Olle says McCarthy never held ill feeling towards the Magpies, with whom he made 18 senior appearances, despite their decision to de-list him in the off-season.

"He never said a bad word about Collingwood," he said.

"He was so grateful that Collingwood drafted him."

McCarthy joined the Power through the 2012 preseason draft.

The hard-running midfielder became a regular at the Power, playing 21 matches in the 2012 season.

Mr Olle says McCarthy felt he owed the Power a great debt for giving him the opportunity to continue his senior career.

"They offered him a second chance and they embraced him and not just him [but also] his girlfriend Dani," he said.

Mr Olle conceded McCarthy, who left for the US with his team-mates the day after the Power's awards night, believed his form could have been better this season.

"Not long before he went overseas he was a little dirty on his year," he said.

"He had been through a lot of for the young man. He was looking forward to the year ahead."

Mr Olle thanked the media and the AFL community for respecting the privacy of the family since they were informed of McCarthy's death on Monday.

Meanwhile, the Power released a statement earlier on Tuesday thanking the public for sharing their thoughts on McCarthy.

More than 1,500 tributes have been left on the club's website and there have been thousands more messages of support on social media.

AFL Players' Association (AFLPA) chief executive Matt Finnis says Tuesday night's AFLPA most valuable player awards will also pay tribute to McCarthy.

"We've thought long and hard about how we do that and we're intent on demonstrating our respect and some small tribute," he said.

"There will be a number of players who would ordinarily have attended tonight who won't be there, but there will be many members of the broader football community who I'm sure will come together and draw some support."

Tags: australian-football-league, sport, sorrento-3943, port-adelaide-5015, collingwood-3066

First posted September 11, 2012 17:38:09


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Thursday, May 3, 2012

Famous football family mourns another champion

By Lisa Mosley

Updated May 03, 2012 16:31:16

Northern Territory and Western Australian football identity Sebastian "Sibby" Rioli has died.

He was 57.

He died at Royal Darwin Hospital this morning after suffering a heart attack.

Mr Rioli played for the South Fremantle Football Club during the 1970s.

He was the brother of the late VFL and Territory football star Maurice Rioli, who died in 2010 while celebrating Christmas with his family.

"Sibby" Rioli is survived by his wife and six children, and his son Ben plays for the Territory Thunder team, which competes in the NEAFL.

A member of his wider family, Cyril Rioli, now plays with AFL club Hawthorn.

Another relative, Dean Rioli, played for Essendon.

Tags: death, australian-football-league, darwin-0800, south-fremantle-6162, melbourne-3000

First posted May 03, 2012 16:31:16


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Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Laidley and family bashed in Bali

Updated October 11, 2011 11:20:46

Former North Melbourne AFL coach Dean Laidley says his daughter's wedding celebrations turned ugly when he and members of his family were bashed in a Bali bar.

Laidley, a former Kangaroos and West Coast player and current assistant coach at Port Adelaide, said the visit to the popular holiday destination for 25-year-old daughter Brooke's wedding quickly turned into a nightmare following the "unprovoked attack".

Laidley, 44, required stitches after being hit in the head by a bottle, his 20-year-old son Kane's jaw was broken and other family members including women were also injured at a Kuta nightspot.

"It's gone from probably one of the best days of my life when you're walking your daughter down the aisle, to something that I would never have dreamed would have happened to my family and now my extended family," Laidley told the ABC.

"What broke out was not very nice.

"My son got a broken jaw, a couple of the cousins... their noses have been broken, lots of cuts and lacerations.

"Physically, there's broken bones and cuts and stitches which will all heal, but mentally some of us struggle."

Laidley said they had only been at the bar for an hour when bouncers, for no apparent reason, attacked family members.

"It's a mystery to us, the police are trying to sort it out, it was completely unprovoked," he said.

"I had Bali belly and wasn't drinking, my eldest daughter doesn't drink, one of the young girls in the party don't drink.

"We had our faculties about us, we had only been there for about an hour, all we know is that our sons were set upon.

"We've got no idea about what happened, we're trying to find out ourselves.

"The police, from what we can gather, are telling us that these things are set up all the time."

Laidley said he and some family members had returned to Melbourne while others remained in Bali to assist police with their investigation.

The ABC has contacted the club but no-one has been available for comment.

Tags: australian-football-league, sport, bali, indonesia, perth-6000, wa, north-melbourne-3051, vic, port-adelaide-5015, sa, australia

First posted October 11, 2011 08:47:45


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Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Family, friends farewell Bob Davis

Published:Tuesday, May 24, 2011 7:11 AESTExpires:Monday, August 22, 2011 7:11 AEST

Hundreds of mourners gathered in Geelong in southern Victoria to remember the former Cats player and coach who passed away at the age of 82.

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Tags: grief, people, australian-football-league, geelong-3220


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Friday, April 22, 2011

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