AS Australians come to grips with the horror of the Martin Place siege, Bathurst yesterday came together to remember the victims and to pray for peace.
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The Reverend David Whittingham from the Presbyterian Church held a reflection service, enabling people to express their grief.
Reverend Whitting-ham said the service gave people the chance to talk, pray and essentially come together.
“I figured those living in Sydney had the opportunity to lay flowers in Martin Place, so it would nice to have something similar here.”
During the service, Reverend Whittingham said Australia had changed on Monday morning.
But he said the siege had unified the community, evident in ideas such as #IllRideWithYou and the impromptu flowers placed at Martin Place.
He said as the community took time to stop and grieve the loss of life, it was also a time to reflect on our blessings, adding that in a week of tragedy there was a lot for which to be thankful to God.
“Fifteen hostages escaped with their lives,” he said.
“And 12 escaped uninjured. The hostages injured and the police officer [injured in gun fire] are recovering well.
“The babies of the pregnant women were kept safe and there were no bombs and no other terrorists involved.”
At the end of the service, Reverend Whittingham invited those present to sign a book of condolence to be passed on to Bathurst MP Paul Toole and eventually the families of those killed in the siege.
