‘This is our sanctuary’: A multitude of Surf lifesavers Come together to Pay tribute to Tragedy The fallen.

Gazing quietly upon the waves on Bondi shoreline, arm in arm with hundreds of fellow lifesavers, Lockie Cook let himself feel the grief of a community’s harrowing week in modern times.

“I feel like that guard’s just dropping,” he remarked.

Volunteer lifeguards came together in large numbers on that morning to hold two minutes’ silence and remember those killed in the tragic shooting.

From the very young to the elderly, alongside friends and neighbours dressed in distinctive lifesaving gear embraced one another, forming a human chain stretching from the famous shoreline's north side all the way to its southern tip.

“The most important aspect that’s come out of this is just the extent that this place signifies to me,” he shared.

“Here is our spiritual ground … It’s just important we reconnect and truly recover.”

A Moment of Shared Sorrow

At 8.15am, the period of silence was initiated by a figure at the beach’s primary observation point, around which had been laid bunches of tributes.

“120 seconds can be a an eternity but take this time for introspection,” he said.

“Link arms with the individual next to you, look inward and think about the loved ones grieving so we can rebuild with strength for this community.”

Attendees gazed at the sand or to the horizon as residents, visitors and officials observed. The only sounds were the ocean's rhythm, a single barking dog and a overhead rescue helicopter, which circled along the beachfront as the moment concluded.

Reclaiming the Sand

Loved ones and colleagues slowly came together in an embrace and cheer their colleagues at the opposite end of the beach as cheers erupted from the observing onlookers.

This was another example of the volunteers working to strengthen the community this week, noted one individual, a Jewish member of the beach's north side and a emergency helper on the day of the attack.

“Today I just feel the compassion and solidarity,” expressed the individual, who wished to remain anonymous.

Having made his home in Bondi nearly all his life, he participated in the memorial paddle on in the days after and has worked to reclaim the beach as his own.

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

The Guiding Spirit of Lifesaving

Gene Ross, a experienced lifesaving teacher, spent the period of reflection beside his just-trained son, thinking about the solidarity his club had exhibited every day since Sunday.

“Carrying out the attack here … led Australia to rally behind the community.”

A great number of volunteers experienced a mix of emotions together as they returned toward their clubs and through the park where their colleagues helped the injured on Sunday.

A significant number remained on the beach, prepared to assist people entering the ocean.

“Our duty is to all and that’s the core principle of lifesaving,” Ross stated.

“This is our purpose as rescuers: we run to the crisis.”