By Edith Thomas

I’m deeply honoured to have been asked by Soffie to remember the time the Heseltine family lived in Indonesia, in particular the days spent in Malili and Soroako. Memories of these times in a small isolated multicultural community and the experiences we had has played a major part in each of our individual  lives.

I have specific memories of my husband Bill’s relationship with Benny and fondly remember the laughter between them.  Benny was instrumental in fostering the harmony and well being of this community, in spite of some trying times, often negated my the odd ‘happy hour’. Benny, with the support of Soffie, became the rock upon which this small community thrived. The Malili experience became the foundation for the larger and more sophisticated settlement of Soroako. a small isolated multicultural community. It is with pride and affection that I recall our days in Indonesia and Benny was Bapak to all.

Edith Thomas (formerly Heseltine)