If Sunday is Sydney’s best chance to breathe out,to spend more time with family,friends and loved ones,then the city needs to exhale today.
Tributes at Bondi Junction Westfield.Dion Georgopoulos
The city is barely starting to recover from the heartbreak after the peace of a Saturday afternoon at the shops was shattered. Six innocent lives were taken in Bondi Junction,the attack only ending with the killer’s death,and many others will carry physical and psychological injuries for years to come.
Monday’s alleged terrorist attack in Wakeley in Sydney’s west,when a bishop was struck while at the pulpit,only added to the city’s sense of horror. Close to the scene there is rage,anger and fear,but unease is everywhere. That the accused is a teenager compounds the shock.
Even events far away add to the concussive feeling of dread;war in the Middle East resonates deeply in our multicultural society. It hurts because it is close to the heart;in this ever-connected world we know people who live there,or it reopens memories of conflicts and traumas past.
The sense of suffocation is not helped by the ubiquitous nature of social media,where horrific images can be spread at terrifying speed. Lies and untruths spread fast,too,and can be shared both innocently and by those with malevolent intent.
Death,wounds and war can happen in an instant but healing and peace take time. For Sydney,part of the long journey began on Friday with the reopening of the Westfield mall and continues with a candlelight vigil. It will be held at 5.30pm on Sunday to give the community a chance to gather and honour the victims of the Bondi Junction tragedy. Supported by Waverley Council and the NSW government,a minute’s silence will be held and attendees have been asked to bring their own candles for the vigil.
No one has been left untouched by the events of the past week. But the potential effect on children and young adults is particularly concerning. Many of those caught up in the chaos at Westfield were shoppers enjoying school holidays or young,casual employees. Of those sharing or exposed to violent images on social media,a significant number have been children.
The halfway mark of the school holidays presents the perfect time to remember the need to nurture the young,to build community spirit and to come together with love in defiance of those who would tear us apart with hate.
While it has never been easier to connect electronically,it is important to remember to remain connected personally. To turn the phone over,to make eye contact,to show a little kindness to strangers. Thank the bus driver and the barista,smile at the security guard. Importantly,be sure to hug and laugh and cry with those people who matter most. And if you need help,don’t be afraid to ask for it.
If you or anyone you know needs help,call SANE on 1800 187 263 (and see),Lifeline on 13 11 14 (and see) or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636 (and see).
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