"Our thoughts and prayers are with you in this grievous time."
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Those are the words of Bathurst mayor Graeme Hanger when he met with members of the Bathurst Muslim community on Thursday, following the death of 50 people on March 15, at a mosque in Christchurch.
More than 30 people from the Bathurst Muslim community came together at the Bathurst Council Chambers, where they expressed their experiences following the New Zealand terror attack.
- READ MORE: Gunman opens fire at Christchurch Mosque
"We feel terrible for the people of New Zealand," Cr Hanger said.
"The world changed forever that terrible day and we should be here for better circumstances. "
Fellow councillors Monica Morse passed on her condolences to the wives and children who had lost family members at the shootings.
From the Bathurst Muslim community, Jameel Qureshi spoke about how we had people calling him from Australia and New Zealand to offer their condolences.
"This is nothing to be embarrassed about. This person [who committed these attacks] is not Australian; he's evil," he said.
"It's a sad thing what's happened but we're also happy because the people that have passed away, we believe they're going to paradise.
"We do feel bad for the people who have lost friends and family."
His brother Imran said the Al Sahabah Mosque in Kelso had been inundated with flowers and messages.
"It means a lot and we didn't know how to say thank you, because there were no names on the messages," he said.
"It was a beautiful gesture."
One person shared his grief, explaining that a friend he went to university with in Pakistan was shot dead in Christchurch.
Another, Mohamed Geaur Rahman, also lost a colleague.
- READ MORE: Wait continues for Christchurch families
"I work at a university in Bangladesh and one of my colleagues was there in Christchurch and was killed," he said.
"We worked together for about seven years."
Ashad Kabir said the Muslim community has appreciated the support the greater Bathurst community have shown.
"We appreciate the thoughts and prayers, it's been very helpful," he said.
"The thing is we feel like we're not alone, that we're part of a community.
"Some of my friends knew [the victims in Christchurch] and are thoughts and prayers are with them too.
"We appreciate the support the New Zealand Prime Minister has shown, as well as from people all over the world."
Council will pay respect to everyone affected by the recent attacks that occurred in Christchurch by way of a condolence book available at both the Bathurst Civic Centre and the Bathurst Regional Library.
The condolence book will be available until Friday, March 29 at 4pm.
Fifty people were killed in the Christchurch mosque shooting, with another 50 injured after a 28-year-old Australian man opened fire in two mosques during Friday prayers, using a semi-automatic rifle.