Varunika Ruwanpura had an unusual childhood. Her father worked in hotel management and as a result, he, Varunika and her mother lived in hotels all over the world. It was an exciting life for the family of three, but twice Varunika found herself in the midst of war. On both occasions, war arrived under a cloak of darkness in the middle of the night, bringing terror and havoc right to her doorstep.

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SPUN: True Stories Told in the Territory is a live storytelling event that showcases some of the extraordinary people and stories that make up the Northern Territory. Popping up at different venues across Darwin, working with a range of partner organisations with a different theme each time, SPUN brings to light stories from diverse backgrounds.

Varunika’s story was told at a SPUN event on 10 August 2021 at Darwin Festival where the theme was After Dark.

Storyteller: Varunika Ruwanpura

Producer: Kylie Stevenson

Audio + Editing: Gaia Osborne

Photography: Helen Orr

Presenting Partners: StoryProjects and Darwin Festival

Supporting Partners: Charles Darwin University