2025-12-18
Community is the antidote to hate
In the aftermath of the horrific attack at Bondi Beach, we have seen communities rally up and down the country in solidarity. We have seen the best of humanity on display – so we wanted to take a moment to share some of these stories.
Ahmed al-Ahmed
His act of heroism has rightly made headlines all over the world, gaining praise from world leaders, the media and the public alike.
An online fundraiser set up to recognise his bravery and support his recovery has now surpassed $2.5 million in donations, as at the time of writing. You can donate to the GoFundMe to support Ahmed al-Ahmed here.
Tens of thousands register to donate blood
In the aftermath of the shooting, the Australian Red Cross made an urgent call-out for blood donations, and the community rallied across the country.
Not even two days after the attack, nearly 50,000 people across the country made appointments to donate blood and plasma. With the holiday season approaching, Lifeblood continues to encourage donations.
Most importantly, they are looking for universal O-type blood donations that can support all individuals in need. If you can, register today to donate blood with Lifeblood.
Inter-faith solidarity and embrace
So many pictures of resilience were shared across social media and our television screens this week.
In particular, the heartwarming image of Rabbi Jeffrey Kamins of Emanuel Synagogue and Bilal Rauf of the Australian National Imams Council embracing has stayed with us following a community vigil in Hyde Park in Sydney on Monday night.
We saw compassion, humanity and solidarity in communities coming together to share grief. This week showed us that, together, we are so much stronger and can combat any hate.
Strength and courage of community
We have heard stories of strangers taking care of each other as they were alerted to the danger around them.
Viral social media videos showed people opening their doors to those seeking shelter from the gunfire, strangers protecting pets like Matcha, who was separated from her owner in the stampede to flee the beach on Sunday, and images of lifeguards running towards the horrific scenes with life-saving medical supplies and supporting people in the immediate aftermath.
The power of connection has also been on display in so many ways, including the crew from Disaster Recovery NSW sitting down to have conversations with people on Bondi Beach on Monday.
Community will counter hate
There are people who want to pull our communities apart, but together, we can counter that hatred. In 2026, it is vital that we all keep actively showing up for one another.
The most effective antidote to hate is community. Building community can look like building relationships with your neighbours, reaching out to an acquaintance you don’t know so well, or sparking a conversation with your barista or someone at your gym.
By doing so, we learn that there is much more that we have in common as human beings than what divides us.