Hundreds of surf lifesavers gathered along Bondi Beach on Saturday morning to honour the victims of last weekend’s deadly shooting at a Hanukah festival, in what many described as a powerful and cathartic moment for a shaken community.
Standing arm in arm along the shoreline, lifesavers, locals, families and volunteers observed two minutes of silence at 8.15am. Dressed in the iconic red-and-yellow uniforms, babies, grandparents, neighbours and schoolmates formed a long human chain stretching from the northern end of the beach toward the south, symbolising unity and resilience after what many called the most traumatic week in Bondi’s living memory.
The tribute held special meaning for members of the North Bondi Surf Life Saving Club, several of whom were present during the shooting. Among them was volunteer lifeguard Lockie Cook, who had been attending an end-of-year club party with his four-year-old son when gunfire erupted. Cook sheltered his child and later ran to nearby homes to reassure families that their loved ones were alive while lifesavers worked to save others.
“The biggest thing that’s come out of this is just how much this community means to me,” Cook said. “This is our church. It’s important we reconnect and really heal.”
As the silence was announced from the central lifeguard post—backed by rows of flowers left in tribute—participants were urged to hold hands and reflect on the families affected. The only sounds breaking the stillness were waves lapping the shore, a distant dog’s bark and a rescue helicopter flying overhead.
When the silence ended, lifesavers embraced one another, applauding colleagues at the far ends of the beach as cheers rose from onlookers. Many laughed and cried together as they walked back toward their clubs, while others stayed on duty, ready to protect those returning to the water.
A Jewish member of the North Bondi club and a first responder during the attack said the gathering reflected the deep support within the community. “Today, I just feel the love and support,” he said, adding that returning to the beach in the days after the attack felt like reclaiming a place that defines his life.
Veteran lifesaving instructor Gene Ross said the response showed the true spirit of surf lifesaving. Standing beside his newly qualified son, Ross reflected on the unity displayed since the attack. “We’re here for everybody—that’s the ethos of surf lifesaving,” he said. “That’s what we do as lifesavers: we run to the danger.”
The gathering stood as a quiet yet powerful statement of solidarity, healing and strength, reaffirming Bondi Beach not just as a place of recreation, but as the heart of a resilient community.