The mystery behind her return
Wit With Schapelle still in h hiding because of the public frenzy over her homecoming, her fa family open up to
There was a flood of joyful tears when Schapelle Corby was finally reunited with her mum, brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews on the Gold Coast last week – after 48 hours of cloak-and-dagger measures to avoid the media.
Two days after her longawaited return, her older sister Mercedes was able to finally reunite Schapelle, 39, with her two nephews and niece, who spent their childhoods visiting their aunty in jail in Bali.
“It was the happiest I’ve ever seen her,” shares Mercedes’ son Wayan, 17. “It was pretty emotional. I came up and gave her a big hug like I normally do, and we talked about the flight and what she’s going to do now. There were lots of tears, but they were tears of joy.”
The handsome teenager, who got his Ps last week, says he can’t wait to take “Aunty Pelle” on a drive to one of his favourite surf spots on the Gold Coast.
Mercedes says Schapelle’s future is now completely in her own hands, and no one wants to pre-empt what she may decide to do, which could even mean returning to Bali and the boyfriend she left behind.
“I think it’s going to take time for her to process what it actually means to be free,” she says. “It’s really early days and we’re trying to get over the madness. Whatever she decides to do it will be her decision alone.”
Wayan wanted to speak out about his now famous Aunty Pelle to thank Australians for their words of support since she came home and ask that after the initial excitement dies down, she be given some privacy.
“I hope people give her a chance to have a new life,” he says. “It would be good if everyone let her get on with her life and gave her a second chance to prove she’s a good person.
“Everyone has been really supportive but we’re all a bit nervous because we don’t know how things are going to unfold. I just want her to be able to have a normal life – to be able to go to the beach for a swim once in a while, to have family dinners and get-togethers, to relax and hang out with friends without being constantly hassled,” he says.
“She’s always been a fantastic aunty to me and it’s such a good feeling to have her home – it’s been a long time coming. I can’t wait until we can just have a sit down and a family dinner like normal people.”
Wayan says he’ll never stop believing in Schapelle’s innocence and no matter what other people think, he hopes Aussies will recognise that she deserves another chance to build a life after prison.
“I’ve watched Mum and Dad’s devotion, support and fight for Aunty Pelle all these years,” he says. “Never have I doubted her innocence. Whether people think she’s innocent or guilty, she’s served out her sentence.
“I hope she’ll heal completely from the past 13 years and the things she must have had to deal with and see while in that place.
“I’ve spent as much time with her as I can since she’s been home and she’s just so happy to have her family around her,” Wayan reveals.
“It will be really good to be able to get out and about with her once everything settles down – and it’s cool watching her figure out Instagram and social media!”
‘I hope people give her the chance to have a new life’