Death row prisoner Scott Rush has written a message of thanks from his Bali prison cell to all those at home who are praying for him.
The message was conveyed in a letter that Scott’s father Lee Rush brought back from a visit to the prison.
Corinda-Graceville parish priest Fr Tim Harris accompanied Lee Rush to Bali for the October 21 visit to Kerobokan’s “Death Row Tower”.
Parishioner Pat Cunningham also joined them.
Fr Harris, who took with him a message of support from Archbishop John Bathersby to Scott, told The Catholic Leader that the visit had gone “as well as could be expected”.
“Without question, my trip was not one that I will forget,” he said.
“I had been thinking of bringing a host and some holy oil but decided against this as it might have raised questions coming through customs in an airport in a country that is part of an Islamic nation.”
Increasing Fr Harris’ apprehension was that Bali had been placed under a high terrorist alert by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
However, the looming execution of the Bali bombers and fears that Scott and other Australians on death row might be next had motivated the Brisbane priest to make the trip.
Fr Harris said he and Lee Rush were able to visit Scott twice at the prison.
He also visited another former Corinda-Graceville parishioner among the Bali Nine, Michael Czugaj, who has a life sentence for his part in the crime.
While there, they also met with the young men’s Nigerian cellmate Emmanuel who is also on death row for drug offences.
At one point Fr Harris saw and spoke briefly with another Australian convicted of drug offences, Schapelle Corby.
Fr Harris said the prison guards had been “very welcoming”.
He also paid tribute to Australia’s Consul-General in Bali Bruce Cowled, who had met them at the jail and helped them with their visit.
Fr Harris said the mental and physical state of the young men was best described as “okay”.
He said Scott had indicated that the fate of the Bali bombers was very much on his mind with the thought that “if they are executed, am I next?”
Scott’s father, who stayed a day longer in Bali, had a further burden to contend with on his return to Australia.
Straight after arriving at Corinda Railway Station he was hurrying to see another son Dean, 25, in Royal Brisbane Hospital having a scan to determine the seriousness of a brain tumour.
However, he joined with Scott in thanking all the family’s supporters.
