Strangers gather to mourn Melbourne’s lost

OF all the notes placed with floral tributes to mark the tragedy in central Melbourne yesterday, there was one that etched itself into the minds of anybody able to read it.

People pay their respects to the victims by laying flowers at Bourke Street Mall. Picture: Getty Four killed in Melbourne CBD attack

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OF all the notes placed with floral tributes to mark the tragedy in central Melbourne yesterday, there was one that etched itself into the minds of anybody able to read it.

Written in neat Korean, the message rested beside a single gerbera outside a newsagent on the corner of Bourke and McKillop streets.

It was the site where a woman had died the day before.

“I was on the footpath with you,’’ it read.

“I was so scared but I couldn’t make a sound. Maybe if I had been able to scream, I could have saved you.

“I am so sorry.’’

Melbourne Fire Brigade lay flowers and onlookers watch on. Picture: Alex Coppel.

A day after an accused madman in a car cut a path through lunchtime crowds, the weight of blame lay heavy on the streets as the flowers piled up.

There were witnesses who returned to the scene to remember the dead and injured and, through tears, questioned what more they could have done.

They blamed themselves, but should not.

Others who saw the bloody aftermath stood and silently relived it in a fruitless bid for resolution.

Thoughts of it all woke shopkeeper Young Kim at 3.30am yesterday. He had sprinted from behind the counter of his Lottomart between Elizabeth and Queen streets as the car hurtled up Bourke St on Friday.

He knew when he saw the woman laying on the ground outside his shop that it was already too late.

“I have never seen anything like that in my life,’’ he said.

“I tried to help her. But I could see it already. She was gone.’’

Grieving pedestrians line up to pay their respects. Picture: Alex Coppel.

Another victim, a man just metres away, was bleeding profusely from his head.

“I don’t know if he made it,’’ Mr Kim said. “I hope he did.’’

At the intersection of Bourke and Queen streets yesterday, another bouquet of yellow flowers sat beneath the pedestrian lights. Cars buzzed by as people stopped to look. A man was hit here too, said one. He was knocked clean off his feet. Nobody could say if he survived.

Another hundred metres further on, flowers and a soft toy were placed beside a blue bike rank near the RACV Club.

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“To the beautiful young person who lost their life here on Friday — God speed,’’ a note read.

“Be free and know that you were loved.’’

At the William St intersection, where a pram laid crumpled after the madness the day before, yet more people stood in solemn unity.

“Let’s be kind to each other and be there for each other,’’ read one note nestled among the flowers.

Mourners show their respects on the corner of Burke and Elizabeth st. Picture: Alex Coppel.

Few people ventured any further down the street to where the chaos came to its abrupt climax.

A long stretch of sand soaked up the petrol and oil left behind after the accused driver was shot and finally dragged from his car.

There were no flowers here. Just anger.

“How on Earth did they let him get this far,’’ said one man. “They could have shot out his tyres. Why didn’t somebody act sooner?’’

Back in the mall, city officials mulled over the same questions. Police chief Graham Ashton confessed to frustration “every time blokes like this” were allowed to walk from court.

Premier Daniel Andrews and Lord Mayor Robert Doyle pay their respects. Picture: Alex Coppel.

Lord Mayor Robert Doyle could barely hide his emotions. It was an awful combination, he said, of sadness and anger.

“I will hold on to that sadness,’’ Cr Doyle said. “But I will also hold on to the anger ... because we need to take careful stock of who is on our streets.’’

As the officials wandered away they may have heard two buskers at opposing ends. One sang Amazing Grace in full voice.

The other stood firm and pressed his lips to a microphone. It’s too late, his voice rang out. Too late to apologise.