Bondi Mass Shooting: Thousands Gather For Memorial & Paddle Out Ceremony

Early Friday morning, thousands of Sydneysiders attended a memorial and paddle out ceremony, in memory of the 15 innocent people killed in the Bondi mass shooting on Sunday 13 December.

While countless people attended the memorial event as a whole, an estimated 700 paddlers took to sea at North Bondi at 6:30am. As participants paddled into the water, they formed a circle and held a minute’s silence, remembering the lives lost.

Organiser of the paddle out, local community member Trent Knox, explained that sharing this morning with other community members was very important, as being a part of the local Bondi community is a huge part of his life.

“The idea was just to get everyone out to try and form a circle, host a minute’s silence. I think it’s an opportunity for people to let go and, if they need to cry or need to scream, need to yell, I guess allow the last week to pass through,” he told ABC News , and added that he has never seen anything like this gathering before at Bondi, and that he isn’t sure he ever will again.

Rabbi Yosef Eichenblatt from the Central Synagogue was also in attendance at the Bondi memorial, and said that the gathering was “extremely heart-warming to see” and “so therapeutic”.

“Over the past two years, there’s been a lot of people who have been questioning whether we’re still welcome here in Australia because we saw people calling for our death on the streets on a weekly basis,” Eichenblatt said as he also expressed hope that an event like this could function as a catalyst to create positive change to overturn “evil and darkness”.

“We all are people of this world who just want to live it in peace and harmony with each other.”

It was only yesterday that the bridge and Archer Park in Bondi, where the fatal shooting took place, was reopened to the public again, as police officially finished their forensic examination.

Several funerals for Bondi mass shooting victims held 

Several funerals for each of the 15 victims who lost their lives during Sunday’s terror attack have already taken place throughout Sydney this week.

The youngest victim, 10-year-old Mathilda, was laid to rest yesterday at a beautiful and packed ceremony at a Jewish memorial centre in eastern Sydney. Attendees included NSW Premier Chris Minns, federal Opposition Leader Sussan Ley, and NSW Opposition Leader Kellie Sloane and more.

Matilda’s aunt Lina Chernykh described the 10-year-old to the BBC as a “joyous child who spread love everywhere she went”, and encouraged the community to do the same in her honour.

“Take your anger and… just spread happiness and love and memory for my lovely niece,” Chernykh said.

“I hope maybe she’s an angel now. Maybe she [will] send some good vibes to the world.”

Three funerals are expected to take place over the course of Friday. 

Premier Minns has since the attack recalled the NSW Parliament to discuss new gun law regulations and the possibility of restricting protest laws in the state.

Anthony Albanese has also confirmed a “national day of mourning” for the Bondi attack will be organised next year, and has declared Sunday, December 21 as a day of reflection and mourning in the victims’ honour.