‘This is our sanctuary’: Scores of Surf lifesavers Come together to Pay tribute to Tragedy The fallen.
Standing silently at the ocean on Bondi beach, side by side with close to a thousand other volunteers, Lockie Cook let himself feel the grief of a community’s harrowing week in modern times.
“It feels like my defences are coming down,” he said.
Beach rescuers gathered in their hundreds on the weekend to participate in two minutes of silence and honour those killed in the tragic shooting.
Infants, elders, locals and classmates wearing their iconic colours stood together, forming a line extending from the iconic bay's northern edge to its southern point.
“The key realization we've learned from this is just the depth to which this community matters to me,” he expressed.
“This is our church … It is crucial we reconnect and really heal.”
An Interval of Quiet Contemplation
At 8.15am, the moment of quiet was called for by a figure at the beach’s primary observation point, near which were placed bunches of flowers.
“120 seconds can be a a lengthy period but please look within,” he said.
“Link arms with the person next to you, close your eyes and remember the families affected so we can emerge more resilient for this beach family.”
Attendees gazed at the sand or to the ocean as residents, visitors and officials observed. The sole audible things were the lapping of the sea, a lone dog’s bark and a whirring rescue helicopter, which flew along the shore as the quiet ended.
Taking Back the Beach
Friends and families slowly turned to embrace and cheer their colleagues at the far end of the beach as acclamation came from the watching crowd.
This was one more demonstration of the rescuers working to strengthen the community this week, stated one participant, a local of the beach's north side and a first responder on Sunday.
“Right now, I sense the care and unity,” commented the participant, who wished to remain anonymous.
Having made his home in Bondi nearly all his life, he participated in the memorial paddle on the following day and has focused on healing on the beach as his own.
“It felt like asserting a presence, it’s cathartic,” he shared.
The Guiding Spirit of Service
Gene Ross, a veteran instructor, spent the moments’ silence standing by his just-trained son, reflecting on the togetherness his club had shown every day since Sunday.
“The decision to enact the tragedy here … invited Australia to rally behind the community.”
Scores of rescuers experienced a mix of emotions together as they returned in the direction of their surf clubs and through the park where their teammates saved lives on Sunday.
Dozens more stayed on the water's edge, on duty to help people returning to the ocean.
“We’re here for everybody and that’s the guiding spirit of surf livesaving,” Ross stated.
“This is our purpose as volunteers: we move toward the danger.”
