‘This is our church’: Hundreds of Lifesavers Gather to Pay tribute to Attack Those lost.

Looking out toward the ocean on Bondi beach, side by side with hundreds of other volunteers, Lockie Cook opened up to the anguish of a community’s most traumatic week in living memory.

“I sense that protective wall is falling,” he said.

Surf lifesavers assembled by the score on Saturday morning to participate in two minutes of silence and commemorate those killed in the tragic shooting.

Infants, elders, locals and classmates dressed in red-and-yellow uniforms held each other, making a human chain extending from the iconic bay's north side all the way to its southern point.

“The key realization to emerge from this tragedy is just the depth to which this place signifies to me,” he expressed.

“This beach is our place of worship … It’s just important we unite and really heal.”

A Time of Silent Reflection

At the appointed hour, the moment of quiet was called for by a voice at the beach’s main patrol tower, behind which lie clusters of tributes.

“Two minutes can be a very long time but please look within,” he advised.

“Hold hands with the soul next to you, close your eyes and think about the families affected so we can emerge more resilient for this beach family.”

Attendees looked down or to the distance as residents, visitors and officials watched on. The sole audible things were waves on the shore, a single barking dog and a droning rescue helicopter, which circled along the shore as the moment concluded.

Reclaiming the Shore

People gathered slowly turned to embrace and clap for their colleagues at the far end of the beach as cheers rose from the assembled community.

This was just the latest instance of the volunteers working to unite the beachgoers this difficult period, stated one man, a member of the Jewish community of the beach's north side and a emergency helper on Sunday.

“At this moment, I am filled with the compassion and solidarity,” commented the man, who requested privacy.

Having made his home in Bondi nearly all his life, he took part in the swim on the following day and has focused on healing on the beach as his own.

“The experience was reclaiming a space, it’s cathartic,” he added.

The Core Principle of Rescue

Gene Ross, a longtime trainer, spent the quiet time standing by his newly certified son, reflecting on the solidarity his club had demonstrated in the days following Sunday.

“The decision to enact the attack here … invited Australia to stand with the people.”

A great number of volunteers laughed and cried together as they made their way in the direction of their surf clubs and through the area where their colleagues helped the injured on Sunday.

Dozens more lingered at the shore, ready to come to the aid of people returning to the ocean.

“We’re here for everybody and that’s the core principle of lifesaving,” Ross said.

“It is our calling as lifesavers: we head into the danger.”