Drinks Digest is deeply saddened by the tragic events that occurred at Bondi Beach on Sunday and our thoughts are with everyone affected – families, friends, businesses and the Jewish community.

It has been inspiring to see how Bondi’s RSL clubs, surf life saving clubs, restaurants and cafes responded during and after the devastating terrorist attack.

Members and volunteers from North Bondi Surf Life Saving Club and Bondi Surf Bathers’ Life Saving Club were among first responders during the incident alongside emergency services, while North Bondi RSL was also among those that sheltered and assisted victims.

Surf Life Saving Australia president Peter Agnew said: “I extend my deepest thanks and respect to our members at North Bondi SLSC, Bondi Surf Bathers Life Saving Club, and the local SLS Sydney teams who responded heroically as first responders,” Agnew said.

“In a moment of crisis, they stepped forward with courage, professionalism and compassion.”

A moving image captured during the crisis shows lifeguard Jackson Doolan running barefoot from Tamarrama to Bondi with a trauma kit in hand.

Doolan’s fellow lifeguard Clint Kimmins told Channel 9 his colleague Doolan’s actions were nothing short of heroic.

“Running barefoot into life gunfire with trauma kids and first aid equipment is heroic,” he said.

“Proud to be a lifeguard, and honoured to call these heroes my friends.

“Let’s stay united, look after one another, live life to the fullest, and love each other.”

Around 300 people took refuge in North Bondi RSL as the tragic incident unfolded.

North Bondi RSL chair Josh Farquhar said the clubs doors were open to anyone seeking support.

“We had a number of people that approached the club seeking refuge. There were a number of people who had been injured, so we were lucky that there were civilian medical professionals,” Farquhar said.

“I think there were a couple of doctors having dinner in the club at the time and we also had a number of veterans there that have got some fairly significant combat experience.

“So we were treating gunshot victims in the club for … probably two or three hours.”

Throughout the evening North Bondi RSL also kept its kitchen open after hours to serve the officers pizza and other hot food to police and emergency responders.

The tragedy has shaken the local area, with businesses taking precautionary measures to ensure staff and patrons feel safe.

Support package announced

The Australian and NSW Governments have announced an immediate support package to assist victims, their families, and small businesses impacted by the Bondi terror attack.

The package delivers immediate financial assistance, expanded victim support services and targeted business help, recognising the profound emotional, social and economic toll of the attack.

A community hub will be open at North Bondi RSL, with the NSW Reconstruction Authority, NSW Health, Service NSW, Service NSW Business Concierge, Disaster Recovery Chaplaincy Network, Legal Aid and Lifeline on hand to provide practical advice and support.

The hub will operate from tomorrow, Friday 19 December to Tuesday 23 December, between 10am and 4pm.
 
The package includes:
 
Victims and family support

• $2 million for Jewish community organisations to support victims’ families, including $1 million for Jewish House to establish a Victim Support Fund to deliver timely, culturally sensitive assistance to the Jewish Community.
• $1 million for Legal Aid and Disaster Response Legal Services to provide legal services to support the recovery of communities.
• Enhancements to NSW’s existing victim support scheme, including increased financial support for injured victims and their immediate families, funeral and burial costs for victims and support for the repatriation of remains.
• $1 million for local Jewish organisations to provide community mental health triage.
• $3.6 million for six place-based recovery officers to undertake case coordination and outreach for affected individuals and families.

Business and community support

• Up to $25,000 for impacted small businesses in the immediate vicinity and those who show exceptional circumstances. Registrations commence on Friday, December 19, with grants processed by early next week.
• $1.5 million for additional security at Jewish community locations.
• $1 million for Waverley Council to assist with clean-up requirements at Bondi Beach, and for community cohesion events.
• $2.8 million to provide up to eight coordinators to undertake community engagement, support the local community and provide capacity building. The funding includes $1 million for a grant program delivered through a partnership between Multicultural NSW and the Jewish Board of Deputies to support community organisations.

Impacted businesses will be able to register for support from Friday, with applications processed from early next week. They can do this by attending the Community Hub or contacting Service NSW on 13 77 88 to organise a meeting with a Business Concierge member.  

If you have been impacted by the terror attack in Bondi there is support available. To contact Lifeline Australia, call 13 11 14 or text 0477 13 11 14.