‘This is our sanctuary’: A multitude of Lifesavers Gather to Remember Tragedy Victims.

Looking out upon the ocean on Bondi coast, hand in hand with hundreds of colleagues, Lockie Cook allowed himself to experience the anguish of a community’s harrowing week in modern times.

“It feels like my defences are coming down,” he remarked.

Volunteer lifeguards gathered in their hundreds on Saturday morning to hold two minutes’ silence and remember those lost in Sunday’s attack.

Babies, grandparents, neighbours and schoolmates dressed in their iconic colours held each other, making a chain extending from the famous shoreline's north end to its south end.

“The key realization we've learned from this is just the extent that this community matters to me,” he expressed.

“This beach is our place of worship … It is vital we unite and begin to mend.”

An Interval of Shared Sorrow

At that morning, the moment of quiet was initiated by a voice at the beach’s primary observation point, behind which had been laid bunches of floral memorials.

“Two minutes can be a a lengthy period but I urge you to reflect,” he urged.

“Hold hands with the person next to you, look inward and think about the loved ones grieving so we can grow back stronger for this beach family.”

Attendees gazed at the sand or to the horizon as locals, beachgoers and dignitaries observed. The sole audible things were the lapping of the sea, a distant canine cry and a whirring rescue helicopter, which flew along the coastline as the quiet ended.

Reclaiming the Beach

Loved ones and colleagues slowly turned to embrace and cheer their companions at the other side of the beach as applause erupted from the observing onlookers.

This was just the latest instance of the volunteers working to strengthen the beachgoers this week, noted one participant, a member of the Jewish community of the beach's north side and a first responder on that fateful day.

“Right now, I sense the care and unity,” said the participant, who asked not to be named.

Having lived at Bondi for most of his years, he joined the swim on in the days after and has sought to take back the beach as his own.

“It was like asserting a presence, it’s therapeutic,” he added.

The Guiding Spirit of Rescue

Gene Ross, a experienced lifesaving teacher, spent the quiet time standing by his recently qualified son, reflecting on the togetherness his club had exhibited in the days following Sunday.

“The decision to enact the tragedy here … prompted Australia to come and support the community.”

A great number of volunteers shared tears and smiles together as they walked back in the direction of their clubs and through the green space where their colleagues saved lives on Sunday.

A significant number lingered at the shore, on duty to help people entering the ocean.

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

“This is our purpose as lifesavers: we run to the emergency.”