‘This is our sanctuary’: Scores of Lifesavers Come together to Pay tribute to Attack The fallen.

Gazing quietly toward the ocean on Bondi coast, hand in hand with nearly 1,000 other volunteers, Lockie Cook allowed himself to experience the grief of a local most traumatic week in living memory.

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

Beach rescuers came together in large numbers on that morning to hold two moments of quiet reflection and honour those killed in the tragic shooting.

Babies, grandparents, neighbours and schoolmates dressed in their iconic colours embraced one another, making a line extending from the crescent-shaped beach’s north end to its south end.

“The key realization to emerge from this tragedy is just the depth to which this place signifies to me,” he said.

“This is our church … It’s just important we come together again and truly recover.”

A Time of Quiet Contemplation

At 8.15am, the two minutes’ silence was called for by a voice at the beach’s primary observation point, behind which were placed rows of tributes.

“120 seconds can be a very long time but I urge you to reflect,” he advised.

“Join hands with the individual next to you, close your eyes and think about the families affected so we can emerge more resilient for this community.”

Lifesavers stared at their feet or to the horizon as the community and its leaders stood by. All that could be heard were the ocean's rhythm, a distant canine cry and a droning rescue helicopter, which circled along the shore as the moment concluded.

Healing on the Sand

Loved ones and colleagues slowly turned to embrace and applaud their companions at the other side of the beach as applause erupted from the watching crowd.

This was another example of the lifesavers working to bring together the beachgoers this week, noted one individual, a member of the Jewish community of the north club and a first responder on the day of the attack.

“Right now, I sense the care and unity,” expressed the individual, who requested privacy.

Having made his home in Bondi for decades, he joined the memorial paddle on in the days after and has sought to take back the beach as his own.

“The experience was taking ownership back, it’s healing,” he shared.

The Ethos of Service

Gene Ross, a veteran trainer, spent the period of reflection standing by his newly certified son, thinking about the solidarity his club had shown every day since Sunday.

“Carrying out the attack here … invited Australia to rally behind the individuals affected.”

Scores of lifesavers laughed and cried together as they walked back to their clubs and through the park where their teammates performed rescues on Sunday.

Dozens more lingered at the shore, on duty to help people entering the water.

“Our duty is to all and that’s the guiding spirit of surf livesaving,” Ross affirmed.

“This is our purpose as volunteers: we head into the danger.”