30 Jul 2009

Two Australian victims of Jakarta bombings remembered

7:09 pm on 30 July 2009

The funerals of two of the Australians killed by terrorist bombs in Indonesia earlier this month were held in two Australian cities on Thursday.

Craig Senger, 35, and Nathan Verity, 38, were killed in the attacks on the Marriott and Ritz-Carlton hotels in Jakarta, which also took the life of New Zealander Tim Mackay.

All three were breakfasting at the Marriott with a group of Australian and New Zealand business people on 17 July when a suicide bomber detonated an explosive device.

Some 400 friends, family and colleagues of Mr Senger gathered in Canberra's St Andrew's Presbyterian Church for his funeral, which was a moving tribute to a man noted for his dedication to work as well as his love of adventure travel, fishing and fine cuisine.

Rudd flies from Sydney to join mourners

Among the mourners was Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, who had flown from Sydney following his address to the Labor Party's national conference.

Friends and colleagues have established the Craig Senger Indonesia Memorial Fund, with proceeds to be donated to a charity in Indonesia.

Mr Verity was remembered at the Catholic mass held at St Patrick's Basilica in Fremantle.

He had been dividing his time between Australia and Indonesia, having set up a human-resources and recruitment business in Jakarta.

Brisbane mining company employee Garth McEvoy was the other Australian killed in the attacks.

Meanwhile, both hotels have reopened - with tighter security.