Former Sturt footballer Julian Burton reflects on how the Bali bombings changed the direction of his life
JULIAN Burton is thankful for every day of the 10 years since the Bali bombers struck.
JULIAN Burton is thankful for every day of the 10 years since the Bali bombers struck.
"It doesn't matter to me whether it's one year, five years, 10 or 20," the Bali survivor says.
"I will always remember.
"I was lucky enough to make it back and have a family so I can only be grateful and remember those who weren't as lucky as me."
Mr Burton, 39, a former Sturt footballer, was celebrating the club's 2002 premiership with teammates at the Sari Club on October 12 when the terrorists struck.
Sturt player Josh Deegan and club official Bob Marshall were among the 88 Australians killed.
See our tribute page to the 10th anniversary of the Bali bombings here
Mr Burton spent months in hospital with severe burns.
"It's not something I can change; we weren't given a choice," he said.
"It happened and you had to deal with it.
"I surrounded myself with wonderful, loving family and friends and that got me through."
The overwhelming support Mr Burton received inspired him to set up the Julian Burton Burns Trust in 2003.
"I knew I had to give something back," Mr Burton said.
"I wanted to be able to provide that for other people and I am humbled to be able to."
At last count, the trust had raised $7.6 million for burns programs and hospital burns units.
"The only reason we are able to do this work is because of the tremendous support we get from the community," Mr Burton said.
This Friday marks the 10th anniversary of the Bali bombings.
"I'll be having a quiet day with my family and thinking of those people who were less fortunate than me who didn't make it back to their families," Mr Burton said.
"A lot of people, mothers, fathers, siblings and friends never had their loved ones come back to them but I came back and became a father.
"How lucky am I?"
Mr Burton has not told his sons Max, 7, and Archie, 4, about that night.
"They see the scars on my body and know daddy got burned but they don't know how. They don't need to know yet."
Sturt will host a remembrance service at the Bali Tragedy Memorial Garden at Unley Oval at 10am on Friday , followed by morning tea.
For more information, call the club on 8271 4611.
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