Messages placed in condolence book for Martin Place tragedy

By Brian Wood
December 18 2014 - 4:00am
MOVED TO ACT: Bathurst residents Lesley and Keith Worthington called into Bathurst MP Paul Toole’s office yesterday to sign a condolence book dedicated to those who lost their lives during the Lindt Cafe terrorism siege in the Sydney CBD earlier this week. Photo: BRIAN WOOD	 121714condolence
MOVED TO ACT: Bathurst residents Lesley and Keith Worthington called into Bathurst MP Paul Toole’s office yesterday to sign a condolence book dedicated to those who lost their lives during the Lindt Cafe terrorism siege in the Sydney CBD earlier this week. Photo: BRIAN WOOD 121714condolence

LESLEY and Keith Worthing-ton were among the first local residents to call into Bathurst MP Paul Toole’s office yesterday morning to sign a condolence book dedicated to the two hostages who lost their lives during the terrorism siege in the Sydney CBD earlier this week.

The Worthingtons said their hearts go out to the loved ones of the victims of the Lindt Cafe tragedy.

Mr Toole said the condolence book is available at his electorate office in Howick Street, where residents are welcome to share their thoughts.

Mrs Worthington said she and her husband had been taking sheep to the stock sale at Carcoar yesterday when they heard about the condolence book at Mr Toole’s office.

“We thought it would be nice to call in and sign it on the way home,” she said. 

“We weren’t so much shocked by it all, it was more of a great sense of relief that we got out of living in Sydney about three years ago and moved to the country, because we just love Bathurst.

“While what happened in Sydney probably won’t change our way of life, I think what it has done is matured us as a country. 

“It tells us that we are part of a bigger picture which is the world. 

“We aren’t just that little island country stuck down at the bottom of the map anymore.

“We are part of a global society where terrorism is a very real threat and what happened in Sydney shows we as a nation aren’t immune to this threat.”

Mr Toole said yesterday there had been a steady stream of people coming in to sign the condolence book.

“And they have been quite genuinely moved by what happened in that cafe,” he said. 

“I think there isn’t a person that hasn’t been touched in some way by this terrible tragedy.”

Mr Toole said he endorses comments made by Premier Mike Baird, who said: “The values we held dear yesterday, we hold dear today. 

“They are the values of freedom, democracy and harmony. 

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the innocent victims of this vicious, horrendous attack, their families and friends.” 

Mr Toole said we are a peaceful, harmonious society that is the envy of the world.

“How we react in coming days will further show who we are,” he said.

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