John Fenech's Story

By John Fenech

9 Feb 2005

Hi my name is John Fenech, A 25 year old from Sydney Australia, I was in Unawatuna with my friend Alison Battisson, Bindu Nambiar, Janine Magrath and Jenny Owen. We were staying at Lands End when Boxing day morning we heard the screams of people and the roar of water just in time to get out of our villa before the water from the tsunami crashed into it. We all rushed up the hill and made it out safe and sound thankfully and like so many others spent the night in the hills where the locals were so unbelievably kind to us,. All that first day the locals helped all us tourists who had congregated together at a makeshift base camp, they gave what food and water they could, medicine for the injured, they made room in their homes...a church caretaker took in over 20 of us, fed us and let us sleep on her floor...she was amazing, the next morning we tried to give her some money for her help and she turned us down (but we snuck some rupees away for her to find later). I and all my friends will forever be in their debt for helping us and keeping us alive, we are so grateful for all their help, words cant describe.

For all those who read this who were not there, and even for those who were, the destruction and devastation is unimaginable. After the waves hit I went into town to search for friends and all I found was destruction, there was no town left. I am so grateful I found my friends (Hi Mike Adele & CJ from NZ) alive and as well as can be expected. But the horror of such a scene, utter destruction, bodies, so much fear and sorrow and anger, what a horrible experience. And it was repeated all the way up to Galle, which was no more also, completely washed away. We walked up to Galle and hitch-hiked back to Colombo with a sri lankan family who got 9 of us into a 4wd, took us to thier home where we ate and showwered (After two days) and then took us all the way up to Colombo...thank you so much Ajantha and Ruffeika, we will never forget what you did for us silly tourists.

Please I urge everyone to not forget about this event just becuase its not front page new anymore,,,the need for our long term help, a committed help is so real, and even if that is only in the form of donations then please do so as it all contributes to us helping recreate so many shattered lives and communities. We may have lost some possesions but we are all lucky enought to have been returned home to our loved ones, our good can e replaced, but these people have lost whole lives, livelihoods, families, communities, and so much innocence..please lets give them some hope, hope by helping to provide the tools to rebuild thier lives and to forge new and prosperous communities and lives.We can do so much from here, so please everyone keep giving!!!

From John, Ali, Bindu, Jenny, Janine, Kathy and Stu