‘This is our sanctuary’: Hundreds of Surf lifesavers Come together to Remember Shooting Victims.

Looking out at the surf on Bondi beach, side by side with nearly 1,000 colleagues, Lockie Cook allowed himself to experience the grief of a area's most traumatic week in modern times.

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

Surf lifesavers came together in large numbers on Saturday morning to hold two moments of quiet reflection and commemorate those who died in Sunday’s attack.

From the very young to the elderly, alongside friends and neighbours wearing their iconic colours embraced one another, making a human chain extending from the famous shoreline's north end to its southern tip.

“The most important aspect we've learned from this is just the depth to which this community matters to me,” he expressed.

“This beach is our place of worship … It’s just important we come together again and truly recover.”

A Time of Shared Sorrow

At the appointed hour, the moment of quiet was announced by a voice at the beach’s primary observation point, behind which were placed bunches of flowers.

“Two minutes can be a very long time but take this time for introspection,” he said.

“Join hands with the individual next to you, close your eyes and remember the loved ones grieving so we can emerge more resilient for this locality.”

Lifesavers looked down or to the ocean as residents, visitors and officials stood by. The sole audible things were waves on the shore, a lone dog’s bark and a droning rescue helicopter, which passed along the coastline as the silence lifted.

Healing on the Shore

Friends and families slowly came together in an embrace and applaud their colleagues at the other side of the beach as acclamation rose from the assembled community.

This was just the latest instance of the lifesavers working to bring together the area this difficult period, stated one individual, a local of the beach's north side and a person who assisted on Sunday.

“Today I just feel the love and support,” said the participant, who asked not to be named.

Having called Bondi nearly all his life, he participated in the swim on the following day and has focused on healing on the beach as his own.

“It felt like reclaiming a space, it’s healing,” he added.

The Ethos of Rescue

Gene Ross, a experienced trainer, spent the period of reflection standing by his newly certified son, reflecting on the unity his club had shown after Sunday.

“The decision to enact the attack here … led Australia to come and support the people.”

Scores of lifesavers shared tears and smiles together as they walked back in the direction of their clubs and through the green space where their colleagues saved lives on Sunday.

A significant number lingered at the beach, on duty to help people returning to the surf.

“We serve the entire community and that’s the core principle of beach rescue,” Ross stated.

“This is our purpose as lifesavers: we run to the danger.”