As the sun rose over Bondi Beach, thousands gathered to pay their respects to the victims of the terror attack that claimed 15 lives on Sunday, December 14.
Photojournalists Mary Lloyd, Che Chorley and Teresa Tan captured the moment.
On Friday morning, just 150 metres from the scene of the shootings, surfers, paddle boarders and others united on and off the shores of Bondi in a show of solidarity.
The event’s goal was to “spread light, love, compassion and unity” and to honour the “lives lost, pray for those on the journey to recovery and express gratitude to our brave first responders”.
And the paddle-out did exactly that.Â
David Solsky, one of the organisers, said it all came together in the “last 36 hours or so”.
“It’s very much the start of the healing process for the community here,” he said.
Rabbi Yosef Eichenblatt, from the Central Synagogue, said the paddle-out was “extremely heartwarming”.
“It’s been so heartwarming to see the outpouring of love and support,” he told ABC News Breakfast.
“If we can use this event as a catalyst to create positive change, that is the greatest victory over hate and evil and darkness, and they lose and we win.”Loading…
Bondi local Caroline said it was beautiful to see the community reclaim the beach.
“It has just been fantastic to see so many people taking the beach back and in such a peaceful, joyful, loving, kind, warm [way],” she said.
“Bondi is a place of peace and tranquillity and so that was what was great to reclaim today.”
Once out on the water, the paddlers created a giant circle and observed a minute’s silence.
Other participants could be heard cheering from shore.
The event organisers, including members of Sydney’s Jewish community and local beach groups, said the paddle-out was one of Rabbi Eli Schlanger’s final initiatives.
Project Noah was inspired by the universal values of the Seven Noahide Laws, which seek to unite people of all backgrounds around kindness, responsibility, and basic human decency, organisers said.
Rabbi Eli Schlanger, a Bondi resident for more than 20 years, was killed during Sunday’s attack.
He has been described as a man who consistently “chose light over darkness, compassion over hate, and unity over division”.
“His life’s work was about bringing people together and reminding us of our shared humanity,” organisers said.
Local community members have organised multiple water tributes this week to honour those impacted by the attack.
On Wednesday morning, 200 members of local swimming clubs came together for a memorial swim.