This is a follow up interview I did with Dallas Finn following a previous interview in which he told me about his plans for Bali Peace Park.
Name: Dallas Finn
Age: 32
From: Sydney
Baliblog: How long have you been involved in Bali Peace Park?
Dallas: I’ve been involved for 10 months.
Baliblog: How is the project going?
Dallas: Good it’s flying along. I’ve had meetings with Alexander Downer’s ( the foreign minister for Australia) senior advisor and also the shadow minister for foreign affairs, Kevin Rudd.
Baliblog: What has been going on since our last interview?
Dallas: We are in the current issue (July) of Woman’s Weekly featuring Sandra Thompson and myself. GQ magazine in the US had an interview with the Coogee Dolphins rugby team which we were on the end of.
I had meetings with members of the Australian government when I went back to Australian for 2 months. It was quite easy to get interview due to the issue. It was easier than I thought it would be and I will be requesting a meeting with the prime minister.
Baliblog: Have there been any major changes in plans since our last interview?
Dallas: Yeah, we have got a petition going that we’re going to approach the Australian government with and we’re getting letters of support in Australia and here in Bali. That is a nice way of approaching the government to get the funding.
Baliblog: What have your biggest challenges been?
Dallas: The language barrier and finding the right people to come on board, which we have now.
Baliblog: Did you ever consider quitting?
Dallas: Many times. I quit at least 3 times a week. I ring up people and say I’m quitting. Something keeps me going because I believe in it so much.
It’s quite intimidating because I didn’t just take on Bali and Australia I took
on all the countries that were affected. Being naïve has helped me. It has helped me through situations. I think if I knew the full extent of what this project entails I don’t think I would of done it.
Baliblog: What have been some of the best moments?
Dallas: The letter of acceptance from the village of Kuta and the Woman’s Weekly article, which has opened doors. Village of Kuta also believed in the project and that means a lot.
Baliblog: Have the local Balinese people been helpful?
Dallas: Yes.
Baliblog: What about the leaders in the Balinese community.
Dallas: Very helpful, Ketut Nugrah has been very helpful, Steve Palmer from Surfer Girl and John from GUS the environmental group have opened doors and assisted in getting things in place. Air Paradise, the local airline have helped Sandra Thompson and myself out with subsidized air fares.
Baliblog: How have the expats been towards you and your project?
Dallas: Everyone is allowed to have their opinion. I’ll leave it at that. The majority are for it and there is a minority who aren’t.
Baliblog: How has your project been received in Australia?
Dallas: They are all for it. Nick Way from Channel 10 in Perth has been a great help as well.
Baliblog: How have you gone about advertising your project?
Dallas: Word of mouth, t-shirts, Woman’s Weekly, Channel 10, Baliblog.com. We are going to use Oct 12th promote it worldwide. The British government haven’t even acknowledged the families and hopefully with enough money raised we’ll be able assist them to build the memorial in Britain.
Baliblog: How has fund raising gone?
Dallas: Slow but picking up.
Baliblog: Can people make donations online?
Dallas: Yes. By credit card from anywhere in the world.
Baliblog: What is the next step for Bali Peace Park?
Dallas: We are approaching the Australia government for funding. On Oct 12th we are going to a thing called ‘World Tolerance Day’ and it will be promoted throughout the schools and the wider community in Australia. ‘T-shirt for Tolerance Day’. T-shirts will be sold through schools and schools will profit as well as the foundation to raise money for Bali Peace Park and the schools. The guy that’s behind that is John Tasker.
Also we are selling Frangiapani pins to the wider community.
Baliblog: How do you support yourself while you are here?
Dallas: Personal savings which are dwindling.
Baliblog: How can tourists, travelers and expats in Bali help your project?
Dallas: We are in the process of making t-shirts to sell to the public through some of the Bali bomb widows. People have to come to Bali to buy them. We will be selling them in various locations.
Baliblog: What has been the strangest thing that has happended to you so far?
Dallas: Through my connections I got to meet Amrozi. I did it partly to get the journey of why I’m doing this fully straight in my mind.
I had a tape player with me and I have to get it translated. He looked straight through me like I was nothing. I told him not to smile and he stopped smiling. I was standing right next to him and out of habit went to shake his hand but he brought me to my senses because Muslims shake hands a different way.
Baliblog: Has there been any opposition to what you are doing or other competing groups?
Dallas: Bupati Badung would like to build a museum on the Sari Club site depicting the events of Oct 12th and charge people. But the village of Kuta have more power than the government concerning what goes on that land and the owner of the land has already knocked back their offer.
Some people are waiting for the project to be completed so they can stand up at the finish line and claim victory. We’ve told them no worries but to be included you have to put up the money to help the project.
Some people have voiced opposition to the proposed layout of the memorial at the Sari Club site. The Sari Club was a nightclub and we propose to build a garden with flower beds representing the bar and other elements representing other areas. There will also be a tree from every country that lost someone. Some people have said ‘how is anyone going to know where their relative was in the bar when it exploded?’ but there were large groups of people and some survived. I don’t care I’m sticking to this design no matter what happens. I know some people would like to put a carousel or a fucking merry-go-round on the site and that would perhaps please some people.
Baliblog: How long till completion of the project?
Dallas: By the 3rd anniversary (Oct 12th 2005) everything will be in place.
Baliblog: How long do you see yourself staying in Bali?
Dallas: Till I’m dead. I’m going to help cross promote the Zero to 1 foundation which helps people who have been affected by terrorism.
Baliblog: Is there any final comment you’d like to make?
Dallas: Power to the people! Why beat around the bush when we can beat it.
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Ann,
I can introduce you to Dallas and he’ll tell you where the t-shirt vendors are. I asked him yesterday and he’s still trying to locate them.
Dallas wants to have a hand in the 2nd anniversary and close down the area around the Sari Club for 2 hours so that just family members of the deceased can pay respects. I think this is a good idea. Having ceremonies on the Bukit and on the beach are nice but their loved ones died in Kuta and they should be able to recognize that moment.
There definitely will be a ceremony though not as large as last year.
I and my partner will be in Bali on Oct 12th, where can we buy T shirts?
and will anything be happening? like a memorial ceremony or something like that?
cheers,
Ann