It has been heartening to see an outpouring of support for Australia’s Muslim community in the wake of Monday’s terrifying siege in the centre of Sydney.

While it quickly became apparent that the gunman involved in the siege, Man Haron Monis, was of the Muslim faith, it was just as quickly clear that whatever drove him had nothing to do with Islam.

Muslim leaders across the country were quick to denounce his actions on Monday and call for calm.

And the broader Australian community has responded magnificently.

When the siege ended with the death of two innocent hostages along with the gunman, there were fears the ugly face of Australian racism – most evident during the Cronulla riots of 2005 – might rise again.

And while social media postings included a smattering of predictably ignorant and offensive rantings, the overall sense within the community was one of unity.

Most saw Monday’s atrocity not as the work of a Muslim but, rather, as the work of a crazed lone offender seeking his 15 minutes of fame.

Most could see that his invocation of the Muslim faith was not just an appalling 

bastardisation of its teachings, but also an insult to the true followers of Islam.

And the broader Australian community could see more clearly than ever that it was our Muslim brothers and sisters who were most vulnerable to attack following the siege.

Thankfully, misguided reprisals seem to have been few if there have been any at all, and that must be a sign that our nation is growing up.

Man Haron Monis’ attack on our sense of security changed Australia ever so slightly for the worse on Monday.

But our nation’s response to the outrage, and its embrace of the Muslim community, shows we have changed ever so slightly for the better as well.