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[krazykitkat]

The families, friends and colleagues of the five Australians who died in last week's air crash at Yogyakarta Airport surrounded her.

All had gathered yesterday morning at Canberra's Fairbairn air base to see their loved ones returned home.

In a sombre ceremony, federal police carried the five caskets holding the bodies of the Australian Financial Review journalist Morgan Mellish, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade official Liz O'Neill, the AusAID official Allison Sudradjat, and Mark Scott and Federal Agent Steele of the Australian Federal Police. A lone drummer accompanied the bearer party.

The caskets were draped in Australian flags, while those of Federal Agent Steele and Federal Agent Scott were also covered with the police flag, their caps on top.

Families spent a few minutes with the caskets before they were taken to the Kingston Forensic Centre to formalise the repatriation.

Ms O'Neill's husband, Wayne Adams, wheeled the couple's nine-month-old daughter, Lucinda, across the tarmac in her stroller. Mrs Sudradjat's family placed a photograph of her on her casket, before covering it with flowers.

Mrs Steele had to be supported as she walked away from the casket, pausing to look back as she returned to her seat.

A piper played Amazing Grace.



And Sydney Morning Herald journalist, Cynthia Banham, is in a critical but stable condition in Royal Perth Hospital. The people next to, behind and in front of her on the plane all died. She somehow survived, but has 2nd and 3rd degree burns to 60% of her body. She's had hours of surgery, and has had to have one leg amuptated and part of the other to try to save her life.

Comments

[jackmaybenimble.livejournal.com]

*Reaching over the oceans for your hand*

[krazykitkat.livejournal.com]

I always get terribly emotional over the news.

And this...I think they said there's 11 kids that have lost a parent, including that baby who lost her mother.

Hearing the piper brought tears to my eyes.

And the Financial Review journalist shouldn't have been on that plane. He missed an earlier one and got a last minute ticket from the embassy on the doomed one.

The Sydney Morning Herald journalist is improved, she's now serious but stable and has been moved out of intensive care and is conscious. Apparently the worst of the burns were to her lower body.

[vonne.livejournal.com]

One of my work & game mates was meant to be on the flight until his boss called a change in plans.

His boss and the guy he was replaced with luckily survived.

While I do mourn the loss of lives, I can't help but be thankful that I'm not in tears for the loss of a friend.

I apologise if some take this the wrong way

[krazykitkat.livejournal.com]

I don't know how anyone could take that the wrong way. That's a perfectly normal response. I'm thankful for you too.