story681.xml
Title
story681.xml
Source
born-digital
Media Type
story
Date Entered
2002-05-28
911DA Story: Story
Adelaide, Australia. It was a tuesday night church meeting.
I left the church and had supper at the home of my best friend. My wife and I drank our last teas and said seeya. We pulled away from their home and as is my habit I turned on the radio to keep me awake since it was an hours drive home. It was around 11.45 at night and every station was talking about the world trade center. I didnt know why..I thought maybe an earthquake? When we heard that a plane had struck the towers I knew I had to get to TV. I couldnt believe it.
I pulled into a petrol station in the city of Adelaide. Taxi drivers were gathered around a wall mounted television as the footage of the first plane was played again and again to the disbelief of our local news reporters. I have never know a moment in history when I have felt so helpless. The taxidrivers and I exchanged looks. I was almost in tears. One of the drivers shrugged his shoulders, shook his head and walked slowly back to his nightshift.
My wife couldnt believe it when I told her it wasnt an accident. We rushed home and I sat and watched the towers fall. I couldnt talk, I couldnt cry, I felt nothing.
I wondered where the world was heading.
My students were wondering the next day. My year 5/6 class held a round table discussion for 90 minutes. Our staff were shocked.
Besides the death of my mother, that day was the numbest I've felt in my life.
As I looked at my class I hoped for a better world. I hated seeing them confused - not understanding the motives of the men behind this atrocity.
What else can I say? Time has passed and I have seen my share of villains.
But I have also seen heroes. As a tough aussie male I rarely get sentimental or patriotic. But the bravery of police and firemen, nurses and teachers, the kindness of strangers - stirred me to wake up and be a better man than I was.
I dedicate this personal story to the Australian lives that were lost on September 11th 2001.
Gods richest blessings on America...on us all.
I left the church and had supper at the home of my best friend. My wife and I drank our last teas and said seeya. We pulled away from their home and as is my habit I turned on the radio to keep me awake since it was an hours drive home. It was around 11.45 at night and every station was talking about the world trade center. I didnt know why..I thought maybe an earthquake? When we heard that a plane had struck the towers I knew I had to get to TV. I couldnt believe it.
I pulled into a petrol station in the city of Adelaide. Taxi drivers were gathered around a wall mounted television as the footage of the first plane was played again and again to the disbelief of our local news reporters. I have never know a moment in history when I have felt so helpless. The taxidrivers and I exchanged looks. I was almost in tears. One of the drivers shrugged his shoulders, shook his head and walked slowly back to his nightshift.
My wife couldnt believe it when I told her it wasnt an accident. We rushed home and I sat and watched the towers fall. I couldnt talk, I couldnt cry, I felt nothing.
I wondered where the world was heading.
My students were wondering the next day. My year 5/6 class held a round table discussion for 90 minutes. Our staff were shocked.
Besides the death of my mother, that day was the numbest I've felt in my life.
As I looked at my class I hoped for a better world. I hated seeing them confused - not understanding the motives of the men behind this atrocity.
What else can I say? Time has passed and I have seen my share of villains.
But I have also seen heroes. As a tough aussie male I rarely get sentimental or patriotic. But the bravery of police and firemen, nurses and teachers, the kindness of strangers - stirred me to wake up and be a better man than I was.
I dedicate this personal story to the Australian lives that were lost on September 11th 2001.
Gods richest blessings on America...on us all.
Collection
Citation
“story681.xml,” September 11 Digital Archive, accessed January 9, 2025, https://911digitalarchive.org/items/show/8261.