Salvo officers a ‘godsend’ in aftermath of Bondi Junction massacre
When six innocent people tragically lost their lives in the Westfield Bondi Junction massacre on Saturday 13 April, the horrific incident rocked the Australian community. Salvos Online writer LERISSE SMITH spoke with the Eastern Beaches (NSW) Corps Officers, Lieutenant Keven Williams and Captain Joanne Williams, about being on the frontline in the aftermath of the tragedy and how locals are healing.
When Keven and Joanne Williams ventured over to Westfield Bondi Junction in the wake of the tragic event, little did they know that the ensuing seven days would unfold into an exceptional week unlike any other.
As Australians united in their grief for the lives lost, injured and shattered, the couple joined forces with a chaplaincy team for the next week to stand amidst the immense pain, grief, fear and shock of the local community and to offer desperately needed comfort, support and a listening ear.
It proved to be a godsend.
“We answered the call and went straight up on the Sunday to just be there for people,” Joanne said.
“One of the things that I really felt impacted by was when one of the Waverley Council rangers said to me, ‘Honestly, You’re a godsend. It was all chaos and everything like that before you came, and then you guys arrived, and everything just went all right.’”
The Salvation Army had a significant presence during the difficult week, with about 10 to 12 Salvo chaplains working on a roster system to support the local community each day. They included council workers, the police and those gathered at the Westfield Bondi Junction precinct to grieve, process mixed emotions, talk, reflect and lay flowers.
Keven and Joanne reflected on how they felt the peace and light of Jesus and his presence when supporting others in their hour of need.
“I felt that whilst people were coming up to the flowers and laying flowers and being present and still in the moment, that we were part of something that God was trying to speak to people in a way that brought peace to the unrest,” Keven said.
And some peace was desperately needed for a local community member who was inside the shopping centre at the time of the massacre.
He followed police officer Amy Scott to try and help before the assailant, Joel Cauchi, was killed. The local community member literally saw everything unfold with the media, television and radio stations bombarding him to secure an exclusive interview.
“We had the radio stations saying to us, ‘Oh, can you talk to the guy about this? Can you talk to the guy about that?’ And my response was just, like, leave the guy alone. He’s just witnessed everything that has just happened,” Keven said.
“I thought to myself, wow, that’s pretty big for someone to have witnessed that. So, I sat with him and spoke to him. He wasn’t able to sleep. I was talking to him last week and since the whole episode, I think he’s had like six hours’ worth of sleep. He’s just been so traumatised by it. We are getting him into counselling and stuff like that, which is great (in helping him).”
Keven and Joanne also held a church service on Tuesday morning after the major incident, during which they asked people how they were travelling.
Joanne recalls thinking how it was like a microcosm of what was happening in society. One lady was frightened to go the shops; another remarked she wasn’t afraid to visit the shops, while another gentleman was triggered by seeing how the parents of Joel Cauchi were reacting and that his brother had schizophrenia, mental illness and drug addiction.
Another gentleman texted Joanne, stating he had schizophrenia and was coming off medication. However, due to the Westfield incident, he had decided it was best to go back on medication, remarking “he didn’t want to do that” (in reference to the actions of Joel Cauchi).
Promoting the vital message to the community that if people were struggling with mental health, they needed to reach out for help is of great importance to the couple.
“I really do think there is something powerful about community coming together in a time of turmoil and a time of unrest.”
While many tears were shed after the tragedy, some beautiful moments occurred, including when more than 1000 people gathered for the vigil at Bondi Beach. It represented the uniting of all during a week of great loss and shock.
“I really do think there is something powerful about community coming together in a time of turmoil and a time of unrest,” Keven said.
“I really do think it’s the peace and the love of Jesus, bringing everybody together in that moment. And the support that was shown not just by us but by other community groups. You name it, everyone was there, even the police were there.”
Triggering moment
Keven was also one of a chosen few to enter the shopping centre on the Thursday after the tragedy when they opened it for the media, staff and the families of the six people who died.
He walked around with the particular community member who had witnessed the event unfold. The gentleman showed Keven where everything happened and how it happened so that he could feel it and experience what he experienced in some way.
“It was triggering for me as I was around when the Lindt café siege happened [in December 2014 in Sydney],” Keven said.
“I was working around the corner in a different job at the time. So, that triggered a lot for me even looking at those flowers. On the Thursday, when there were hundreds of flowers, I was looking at it going, wow, this brings me back to the siege. But again, it brings me back to the community spirit and the love, and just the camaraderie of everyday Australians coming alongside people just to be there for each other.”
A vital part of their work supporting the community for Keven and Joanne was ensuring that The Salvation Army shield emblem was on full display because that attracted people to approach and talk with them. It also let the council and rangers know they were there to help and support others.
The couple are also part of a pastors network on Sydney’s Eastern Beaches. Churches came together and especially supported another church directly situated within the shopping centre mall.
“It’s better together than apart,” Keven remarked.
The community’s banding together, and connection was a shining light for the corps officers in a week marred by deep grief and shock. Being involved in the tragedy also left abiding memories.
For Joanne, it was the sense of community and the power of pulling together and looking after one another.
“It’s extending the hands of peace,” she said.
“Sometimes we think we have to have all the words and say the right things. But actually, we carry the presence of God within. It doesn’t have to be in words. It doesn’t have to be dramatic, there’s this light that just comes. We don’t even realise that light that comes into the darkness and touches the atmosphere.”
Bringing closure
The community vigil at Bondi Beach, which helped bring closure and a sense of moving forward, was also a special time for Joanne. A distressed young woman came up, placed her arm around Joanne, and thanked her for her work.
“I think it was someone cared,” she said. “A small thing led to a beautiful moment, a beautiful encounter with someone.”
For Keven, it was coming back to God and bringing hope where it’s most needed.
“They were looking for hope, for peace, for closure. They were looking to be able to get out of the unrest,” he said.
“It is going to take time, and it’s not an easy thing for people to deal with … but I think it’s the way Jesus holds people. Some of these people don’t know Jesus, but he is always close by. Even when we don’t feel it ourselves, he is there.”
