Hero’s welcome for Inspector Amy Scott at Bondi Junction massacre candlelight vigil
Hundreds gathered at Bondi Beach for a candlelight vigil eight days after the area was rocked by a massacre. It comes hours after the youngest victim was released from hospital.
NSW
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The hero cop who stopped the Bondi Junction stabber in the midst of the horror joined leaders, victims’ loved ones and locals at a vigil to remember the fallen.
Inspector Amy Scott, who shot dead Joel Cauchi after he stabbed six people to death and injured more than a dozen others, joined thousands of mourners at a candlelight vigil at Bondi Beach on Sunday.
Dressed in her formal police uniform, Inspector Scott smiled as she was embraced by police officers and members of the public ahead of the vigil, but appeared sombre as she waited for proceedings to start.
The vigil, organised by Waverley Council after the rampage last Saturday, mourned new mum and osteopath Ashlee Good, 38, bride-to-be Dawn Singleton, 25, architect and mum of two Jade Young, 47, artist Pikria Darchia, 55, Chinese student Yixuan Cheng, 27, and security guard Faraz Tahir, 30.
Thousands gathered at Bondi Beach for the vigil as the sun began to set, with some seen shedding tears while others sat quietly with candles.
A choir performed songs, including Keep Your Loving Arms Around Me, as leaders such as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Premier Chris Minns, NSW Governor Margaret Beazley and Waverley Mayor Paula Masselos lit their candles in front of a hushed crowd.
Mr Minns spoke in memory of those lost in the tragedy.
“Grief can be a terrible burden, but it does not have to be a lonely one,” he said.
“These were people who made life bigger, who saw the possibilities around them … they had faith in the future, and it was taken from them.”
Mr Albanese also spoke, offering condolences to those impacted by the attack. “We keep a place in our heart for everyone affected,” he said.
“Every Australian is thinking of you. We are with you as a community, as a country. Today, tomorrow and always.”
Bondi Junction attack’s youngest survivor released from hospital
– By Lachlan Leeming
A baby injured in the horrific stabbing frenzy at Bondi Junction has been released from hospital more than a week after the incident, NSW Health Minister Ryan Park has confirmed.
In a statement on Sunday afternoon, Mr Park confirmed nine-month-old Harriet would continue to receive treatment following the attack which claimed the life of her mother, Ashlee Good.
“In a positive development, I can confirm the child who has been receiving care at Sydney Children’s Hospital following last weekend’s tragic events at Bondi Junction has been discharged home,” Mr Park said in a statement released Sunday afternoon.
“She continues to receive care from the expert clinicians at Sydney Children’s Hospital.”
The development came ahead of a planned candlelight vigil to be held at Bondi Junction on Sunday afternoon.
The baby’s mother, osteopath Ashlee Good, 38, was one of six people killed when Joel Cauchi went on a stabbing rampage at Westfield Bondi Junction last Saturday.
Shortly after her and her baby were stabbed, the mother urgently passed her child on to two bystanders in an attempt to save her life.
The mother died shortly after, one of five women and a man killed by Cauchi.
The knifeman was later shot dead by lone police Inspector Amy Scott.
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Originally published as Hero’s welcome for Inspector Amy Scott at Bondi Junction massacre candlelight vigil
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