By Sean Tarek Goodwin, Paulina Vidal and Courtney Barrett Peters, ABC
A woman laying flowers outside the Westfield Shopping Centre at Bondi Junction in Sydney, Australia, April 14, 2024. Photo: AFP
A memorial to honour the first anniversary of the Westfield Bondi Junction stabbing attack has been unveiled.
In less than three minutes on 13 April last year, a knife-wielding Joel Cauchi made his way through the shopping centre stabbing 16 people at random.
Six people were killed; Yixuan Cheng, Faraz Tahir, Jade Young, Pikria Darchia, Dawn Singleton and Ashlee Good.
Cauchi also died after he was shot by NSW Police Inspector Amy Scott, who responded to the emergency call.
Senior leaders from government, police and families of the victims gathered at Oxford Street Mall on Sunday morning to offer floral tributes and pay their respects.
Among them were the state premier Chris Minns, Inspector Scott and the brothers of Tahir, the 30-year-old security guard who was killed on his first day shift at the centre.
Two black cubes, wrapped in images and text depict the incident and its impact on the local community.
A second area within the shopping centre has also been set up for floral tributes and messages.
Two brothers of killed security guard Faraz Tahir attending the commemoration wearing their brother's name tag. Photo: ABC/Supplied
Two brothers of Tahir attended the commemoration wearing his work name tags on their blazers.
"He was a hero. He tried to save the humanity, so we want to keep his name alive, so we kept his name on our hearts," one of the brothers, Musafar Tahir, said.
Musafar left a heartfelt message attached to a bouquet of flowers for his brother and the other victims.
"Rest in peace our innocent souls. You will remain in our prayers always and Faraz your loss is the biggest loss of our lives," the note said.
"You are alive in our heart and we will always remember life, and you are our hero as you tried your best to save the humanity."
The family announced on Saturday they were launching a blood drive in memory of the security guard's "heroism", encouraging people to donate under his name.
'Dark' day for Sydneysiders
Earlier Minns described today as a "dark" and "disturbing" day for many Sydneysiders.
He told ABC News Breakfast he remembered his shock when he was told of the attack, and now when he thinks about it he laments the loss of lives of people "who were full of hope".
"Full of, I think, optimism about the future. They had their lives in front of them," Minns said.
"And it's harrowing to think about what they would have achieved over the last 12 months, or what they'd achieve for the rest of their lives, and that's what makes today a very dark and, I guess, disturbing day for many people."
A commemorative stand and floral tributes one year after the Bondi Junction stabbing attack at Oxford Street Mall. Photo: ABC/Sean Tarek Goodwin
Minns praised the resilience of the "amazing" local community and confirmed a permanent memorial would be set up, but that it would take time.
"We need to do that with the families. We want to make sure that it's appropriate, that it's a place for them to come for quiet reflection, and that it doesn't add to the pain that they're feeling," he said.
In remembering the victims, NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb said their deaths were a result of "one of the most horrific events in Australian history".
"Our hearts are with their families who continue to endure unimaginable grief and do their best to carry on," Commissioner Webb said in a statement.
She also paid tribute to the first responders, calling them "heroes" for helping to save lives during the "senseless tragedy".
"The memory and the trauma of this day will never be forgotten."
Support services will be available for the community on Sunday and Monday.
An inquest into the deaths and how the events unfolded was due to take place from Monday, 28 April 28 to Friday, 30 May, and will be conducted by NSW State Coroner, Magistrate Teresa O'Sullivan.
- ABC
