‘This is our spiritual home’: A multitude of Surf lifesavers Come together to Remember Shooting Those lost.

Looking out at the ocean on Bondi beach, hand in hand with nearly 1,000 fellow lifesavers, Lockie Cook allowed himself to experience the grief of a local harrowing week in living memory.

“It feels like my defences are coming down,” he said.

Volunteer lifeguards gathered in their hundreds on the weekend to hold two minutes’ silence and remember those who died in Sunday’s attack.

Infants, elders, locals and classmates clad in red-and-yellow uniforms embraced one another, making a human chain running from the iconic bay's north side to its southern point.

“The key realization to emerge from this tragedy is just how much this community matters to me,” he said.

“This beach is our place of worship … It’s just important we unite and begin to mend.”

An Interval of Silent Reflection

At the appointed hour, the period of silence was called for by a man at the beach’s main patrol tower, near which lie rows of floral memorials.

“120 seconds can be a a lengthy period but I urge you to reflect,” he said.

“Hold hands with the person next to you, shut your eyes and think about the loved ones grieving so we can emerge more resilient for this beach family.”

Attendees gazed at the sand or to the ocean as locals, beachgoers and dignitaries observed. All that could be heard were the ocean's rhythm, a lone dog’s bark and a overhead rescue helicopter, which flew along the beachfront as the moment concluded.

Taking Back the Sand

Loved ones and colleagues slowly turned to embrace and cheer their companions at the opposite end of the beach as cheers came from the assembled community.

This was just the latest instance of the volunteers working to strengthen the area this week, said one participant, a member of the Jewish community of the north club and a first responder on that fateful day.

“Right now, I sense the compassion and solidarity,” commented the participant, who wished to remain anonymous.

Having made his home in Bondi for most of his years, he took part in the community swim on Monday and has sought to take back the beach as his own.

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

The Ethos of Service

Gene Ross, a veteran instructor, spent the period of reflection next to his recently qualified son, considering the unity his club had exhibited every day since Sunday.

“Choosing to do the attack here … invited Australia to rally behind the community.”

A great number of lifesavers laughed and cried together as they walked back toward their surf clubs and through the area where their fellow members helped the injured on Sunday.

Dozens more lingered at the beach, on duty to help people going back into the surf.

“We’re here for everybody and that’s the guiding spirit of beach rescue,” Ross affirmed.

“This is our purpose as lifesavers: we move toward the emergency.”