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Australians 'defiant, resilient' after Bali attack
By CNN's Grant Holloway in Sydney
CANBERRA, Australia (CNN) -- Prime Minister John Howard has told a national memorial service for the victims of the Bali bomb attacks that Australians are defiant and resilient in the wake of the October 12 tragedy. The service was held in the Great Hall of Australia's national parliament in Canberra Thursday. It was attended by Australia's Governor-General Peter Hollingworth, state governors and state and territory leaders, Defense Force chief Peter Cosgrove and by many family and friends of the victims of the terror attacks. The centerpiece of the simple and moving service was the lighting and placing candles by families of the victims to the strains of a lone bagpiper. On each seat was placed sprigs of the Australian native wattle flower which mourners then pinned on their chests as a sign of remembrance and respect. About 1,000 people were present for the service. More than 180 people are believed to have died in the Bali attacks, the majority of them Australian tourists. Many of those believed killed in the blasts have yet to be identified. Speaking at the service, Prime Minister Howard said the events in Bali had resonated on the Australian people like no other event in their lifetime. He said that while Australians were consumed by a natural grief and justifiable anger, the tragedy had also reminded people of the strengths of the national character. The events proved that in a crisis Australians were "all mates together". The sense of mateship and support had emerged along with a sense of resilience, he said. "We will not be deterred from living our lives ... We will not forsake the values of this nation." It also reminded Australians of their sense of defiance. We will not be deterred from travelling," Howard said. "We will continue to live the kind of lives we regard to be our birthright." The Australian leader said that while Australians were angered and grieved by the events, they would not abandon their sense of tolerance. But it did teach the nation that terror's reach was everywhere and that Australia was needed in the response to terror like the rest of the world, he said. First funeralsA tribute was also read at the service by the Indonesian Charge d'Affairs in Australia Imran Koton and candles were lit for the people of Bali by religious leaders of the Hindu and Islamic communities. In his reflection on the events, Labor opposition leader Simon Crean read out letters from two children who had lost their father in the attacks. The first funeral for a victim of the Bali attacks was held Wednesday with family and friends of 29-year-old Jodie O'Shea gathering in Sydney to say farewell and pay their respects. O'Shea died in hospital in the Western Australian city of Perth three days after the explosion at the tourist resort precinct of Kuta. Later Thursday a second funeral is due to be held in Perth for 41-year-old Tracy Holmes who died from severe burn injuries on Sunday. Australia also had national day of mourning for Bali victims last Sunday with ceremonies and services held around the country.
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