At least 15 people have been confirmed dead in Sunday’s shooting attack at Bondi beach.
Many were attending an event to mark the first day of the Jewish festival of Hanukkah.
Authorities have confirmed that two rabbis, a Holocaust survivor and a 10-year-old girl were among the Bondi shooting victims.
Authorities have confirmed that a 10-year-old girl, named by her family as Matilda, was among the dead.
Matilda:
Her parents attended a vigil on Tuesday to honour her and the others killed at Bondi.
The family moved to Australia from Ukraine and Matilda was their first born in the country.
Recalling the deadly attack, the 10-year-old’s mother said the alleged gunman “just pulled his trigger on her… it wasn’t just a bullet from a stray – it wasn’t an accident”.
Irina Goodhew, who organised a fundraiser for the girl’s mother and said she was the child’s former teacher, wrote: “I knew her as a bright, joyful, and spirited child who brought light to everyone around her.”
The Harmony Russian School of Sydney also confirmed that she was one of its students.
“We are deeply saddened to share the news that a former student of our school has passed away in the hospital due to injuries sustained from a gunshot,” the school wrote on Facebook.
“Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences go out to her family, friends, and everyone affected by this tragic event … Her memory will remain in our hearts, and we honor her life and the time she spent as part of our school family.”
Meanwhile her aunt spoke to ABC news and said that Matilda’s sister, who was with her when she was shot, was struggling to come to terms with the loss.
“They were like twins — they’ve never been separated,” she told the ABC.
Peter Meagher:
Former police officer Peter Meagher was working as a freelance photographer at the Hanukkah event when he was killed, his rugby club confirmed.
“For him it was simply a catastrophic case of being in the wrong place and at the wrong time,” Mark Harrison, the general manager of Randwick Rugby Club, wrote on its website.
“Marzo, as he was universally known, was a much loved figure and absolute legend in our club, with decades of voluntary involvement, he was one of the heart Bondi shooting victims and soul figures of Randwick Rugby.”
The club said he had spent almost four decades in the NSW Police Force where he was “hugely respected by colleagues”.
“The tragic irony is that he spent so long in the dangerous front line as a police officer and was struck down in retirement while taking photos in his passion role is really hard to comprehend,” the club said.
