16/12/2025
This morning while I was driving around getting some last minute Christmas errands done I was watching my two girls in the rear vision mirror, just 2 and 5, peacefully falling asleep.
What should be a sweet moment, admiring the innocence of my little girls, was met with a deep feeling of sadness.
Sadness for the 6 year old little girl who’s sisters life was taken away in an instant, right before her eyes.
Sadness for the women, who’s husband of 50 years, was killed while trying to shield her from the horror that was unfolding.
Sadness for the 15 families who woke up on December 15th to a cruel new world without their loved ones.
What I also felt in that moment, while I watched my perfect girls, was relief, gratitude and pride.
Relief and gratitude because in that moment my girls were safe. And pride because we live in a country where despite this atrocity committed by two monsters, there are countless stories of heroism, selflessness and bravery.
From Ahmed al-Ahmed, who put his life on the line to disarm the terrorist and no doubt saving countless lives as a result. To Jessica Rozen, despite being separated from her own young children, bravely threw her body over a stranger’s 3 year old child, while an active shooter was just metres away.
To all of the members of the public and first responders running towards the chaos not away from it.
It’s hard to put into words how deeply disturbing the events at Bondi beach on October 14th were, and the fear we all now carry.
However, in the face of unimaginable violence, what endures is the way people choose to protect, to shield, and to love, even at great cost.