updates 21st September 2008

17 April 2008

Dear Christine and Lee

We want you to know that our prayers and thoughts are with you and your family. If we’re not mistaken today is the third anniversary of Scott and the eight others in Bali. Be assured God has a plan for all though at times it is hard for us to see.

We suspect you know the story of one of the last people executed in Queensland, but here goes the brief version.

Patrick Kenniff was hanged in Boggo Road goal in Brisbane in1903 for murdering two men – one being a policeman.

The trial was controversial at the time (vested interests and politics were in play), and the case became the catalyst for Queensland being the first state in Australia to get rid of the Death Penalty in 1922.

That’s something special for Queenslanders to hold on to. God too always has something special for us.

Yours sincerely,

God bless

xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

PS James Kenniff the co-accused did time, was released and lived the rest of his life without problems with the law.

Steele Rudd the writer witnessed the execution but not sure if he wrote about it.

Update this month January 2007

Answer to Joshua's letter below

Dear Joshua

We are in Bali supporting our son who is now on death row at Kerobokan Prison.

We have began the campaign - both legal and political - to save the life of our son, Scott Rush. For the last two days we have been is discussion with our legal advisors headed by prominent Australian QC Mr Colin McDonald. We have now commenced preparing the last legal process - judicial review of the Supreme Court sentence of death imposed on our son on 7 September, 2006.

We would be grateful if you could share this message with our fellow Australians gathered in Melbourne on Sunday 17th September, 2006.

We acknowledge the traditional owners of this land and we thank the organisers of this peaceful rally for upholding a value that lies at the heart of Australian democracy - respect for human life.

We thank all of you who attend this day for your concern and your support as fellow Australian citizens. We thank you on behalf of our son and the other young Australian citizens now facing death by firing squad. It is appropriate that we be frank at the onset. Our son has committed a crime and we do not and cannot condone what he and the other young Australians have done. Illicit drugs are a cancer in our and many other societies. Nevertheless, we believe that Scott has been punished disproportionately and unjustly.

In common terms Scott was a lesser courier of drugs. In the hierarchy of drug related crime, he was in the lower order. Yet, despite not even the prosecution having asked for the death penalty, he has been sentenced to death. Although, objectively his crime was less serious, he has been given the maximum penalty and the same as those who organised the in Bali. We believe, and we are advised that the maximum penalty should be reserved for the most serious cases. We believe, and we are advised that the sentences as amongst the co-accused should be similar. This did not happen in Scott's Rush's case. (Like cases should be treated in a similar way in the sentencing process. Tragically, this has not happened in Scott's case.

We believe, and we are advised that that Scott sentence of death contains serious errors of law and erroneous sentencing principle. We are advised that these are grounds to merit a serious case to engage in judicial review.

The death penalty has historically not proved a deterrent to crime especially for younger and more vulnerable people.

We have lived many months in Bali, Indonesia, since our nightmare began and we value the compassion, friendship and hospitality shown to us by locals and expats. Indeed we are dependent on these people for Scott's well being to a large extent. We Australians need to further our knowledge of our nearest neighbour We need to develop our respect and understanding for the people and diverse culture of Indonesia.

We certainly support the anti-drugs stance taken by both the Australian and Indonesian Governments, however from an Australian perspective we say that the War on Drugs needs a new strategy. Certainly, no Australian Federal Police officer should be allowed to expose Australian citizens to the death penalty overseas where the death penalty is a distinct possibility.

God bless

Christine and Lee Rush and family

There are no words that can do justice to the emotion of sitting and holding the living hands of a son and praying with him when he is facing death by firing squad. We feel this pain in a deep personal and direct way. We hope it never happens to any other Australian parents .

Dear Rush Family,
Thank you very much for taking the time in this
difficult week to speak to me. As you are aware I have organised a peaceful rally for Sunday 12pm the 17th opposite (In the park) number 72 Queens Rd Melbourne the Indonesian Consulate Generals Residents.
I walked in from work the other day and heard the news reports It saddened me and then anger set in. We're Aussies and we'll stick together on this one.
Enough is enough and I want you to know we care and I wont rest until
Justice is served.
The Leader of the Democrats Lyn Allison will be attending and giving a
speech. Bob Brown leader of the Greens can't attend but has sent a letter of support to be read out at the rally. Kim Beazley is yet to confirm although I'm confident he will send a letter of support to be read out.
I have emailed every Union in Melbourne. From the Nurses Union,
fire-fighters, police, actors, universities, building union, textiles etc etc

There will be Barry Humphries and some other well known Australian Identities.
The Islamic Council Leader is invited to attend and he will confirm Monday.
As is the Christian community, Indian and so on.
I would appreciate it If you could send me a letter to be read out to the
crowds. Feel free to pass my contact on to the other family's effected.
As I said to you Scott struck a chord with me and I want you to know I love you guy's to no end and my thoughts are with you in this difficult time. I won't rest until justice is served and your son is bought home safely.
I knew people affected by the Bali bombings and we as Australians need to band together and say to Indonesia loud and clear we wont be bullied
anymore!
I look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
Joshua Brooker

Australians facing death by firing squad in Indonesia

To: Father xxx
Re: Michael Czugaj and Scott Rush
March 28, 2006.

Dear Father xxx, if I may please have a couple of moments of your extremely valuable time.

My Name is xxx, I'm 33 years old and live in Long Beach,
California, USA. The reason I am E-corresponding is because of the tragic event that occurred with the Brisbane boys in Bali last year.
Father, please forgive me for being so presumptuous: In my research your name came up in one of the media outlets, so I figured contacting you may be my best start.

In the States this Bali incident was quite transparent and on a back
burner virtually all the time and I had not come across the story until the
words, Death Penalty and life in a horrible prison, played across the television and internet media outlets. While we here we Americans were glued to the news with the passing of the Great Pope John Paul II, the sickening Michael Jackson case, Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath, Iraq, and reactions to Muhammad cartoons, the plight of the "Bail nine" simply sailed pretty much under the radar scope...That is until the terrible verdicts were read out. I have never been so profoundly affected by a news story of people I have never met like this one. Father, when I started doing research on their case it was already almost a year since their arrest and what I found saddened me completely to the core and ripped my heart out . When I saw those videos of Michael and Scott weeping with their parents and holding on to their faith for salvation

I wanted to cry myself. I so badly wanted to drop everything here and fly there and comfort them and hold them and tell them a that in Christ all things are possible. I pray for them and think about them all the time and wish I could do more for them.
In my youth I to had been a troubled teen. I had a couple of suicide
attempts and made it a rule thumb not honour my Father and Mother. But I recovered. I have also lived and dealt with several very rebellious teens
in my life. So I can tell when a teen is feigning remorse and when they are
sincere about it and I am thoroughly convinced that Scott and Michael are quite sincere. I don't know why this case hit me so hard. A good deal of time I spend on the internet is looking for national and local news, rather than watch the rubbish that is on the telly.
Usually people who commit crimes like these boys did would get a good dose of condemnation from me I've always been pretty harsh towards drug dealers and pushers but this case was different.
It was like I could almost feel their anguish the day their sentences were
read.

I found it virtually impossible to throw the first stone. My sympathy for
those lads, especially Michael and Scott, was absolute and suffocating
almost to the point that if there was a fund raiser to buy or bribe their
way out of prison I would have gladly donated hundreds of dollars. It wasplike the boys and I were somehow-- I would not call it connected-- but linked in some way or haunted...as if I was some how sucked in by their despair. It stirred something deep inside me and I've never experienced anything like that in my life.

Especially for total strangers --let alone two on the other side of the planet. It has been quite a humbling experience, truth be told. And still I'm at a loss for an explanation for this. Now I realize that the do need to be severely punished for what they did, but ending or totally destroying their lives is simply too severe a price for their transgression. Especially with lads that young who are too willing to rehabilitate and redeem themselves.
The need love and prayer on not bars for life in a horrible stink hole.
Well, in the last two weeks I've gotten a grip of myself and have built
enough courage to write to you to see if you can point the way where I can send some cash or care packages to the boys. Is there a trust fund for them or some sort of secure conveyance were packages can be forwarded to them? Is there a list of their needs somewhere that I can read? There are dozens of internet sites advising on how to send them letters and things, but really, I don't trust anything like that on the net. Not that I think they are all dishonest but things can get lost  or sent to the wrong people.

I would rather send it to someone who has contacts with them.
I've read of this French women that moved to Kerobokan to be with her son who is in a very similar predicament as Schapelle Corby. As it turns out she has ultimately become a mother hen of sorts to other foreigners at the prison. Perhaps you can help me get in contact with her or someone like that to ensure that all supplies are delivered to them?
Again, I only ask this you because  I don't know where else to go. Contact with their immediate family may be unruly and invasive at this time and I feel utterly uncomfortable making contact uninvited- even if I could find them. But perhaps if they are organizing some support base I can be of help financially. Then again, only if you and all those involved feel it is appropriate at this time, you may help me get in contact with the families to express my support for the boys well being, I would be forever grateful.
Father xxx, Once more, Thank you for your valuable time.
Words alone cannot  express my appreciation.
In Jesus' name
Very Cordially yours,
xxxxxx.