‘This is our spiritual home’: Hundreds of Surf lifesavers Gather to Remember Shooting The fallen.

Looking out at the waves on Bondi coast, side by side with close to a thousand fellow lifesavers, Lockie Cook allowed himself to experience the anguish of a area's deeply distressing week in living memory.

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

Surf lifesavers came together in large numbers on the weekend to observe two moments of quiet reflection and commemorate those lost in Sunday’s attack.

Babies, grandparents, neighbours and schoolmates dressed in distinctive lifesaving gear held each other, creating a chain extending from the crescent-shaped beach’s north end toward its southern tip.

“The big thing we've learned from this is just the depth to which this community means to me,” he expressed.

“This is our church … It is vital we reconnect and really heal.”

A Moment of Quiet Contemplation

At 8.15am, the period of silence was initiated by a figure at the beach’s primary observation point, near which lie rows of flowers.

“120 seconds can be a a lengthy period but take this time for introspection,” he advised.

“Join hands with the soul next to you, close your eyes and think about the families affected so we can rebuild with strength for this beach family.”

Attendees looked down or to the distance as the community and its leaders observed. The only sounds were the lapping of the sea, a distant canine cry and a whirring rescue helicopter, which passed along the beachfront as the quiet ended.

Taking Back the Shore

People gathered slowly hugged one another and cheer their colleagues at the opposite end of the beach as acclamation erupted from the assembled community.

This was one more demonstration of the rescuers working to bring together the area this difficult period, said one man, a member of the Jewish community of the beach's north side and a person who assisted on that fateful day.

“Right now, I sense the care and unity,” commented the participant, who requested privacy.

Having lived at Bondi for most of his years, he participated in the memorial paddle on the following day and has focused on healing on the beach as his own.

“It felt like taking ownership back, it’s healing,” he added.

The Ethos of Rescue

Gene Ross, a veteran lifesaving teacher, spent the quiet time next to his recently qualified son, considering the solidarity his club had demonstrated every day since Sunday.

“Carrying out the attack here … prompted Australia to come and support the individuals affected.”

A great number of lifesavers laughed and cried together as they walked back to their patrol bases and through the area where their teammates performed rescues on Sunday.

Many others remained on the water's edge, ready to come to the aid of people returning to the ocean.

“We’re here for everybody and that’s the core principle of surf livesaving,” Ross affirmed.

“That’s what we do as rescuers: we head into the danger.”