Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced a national day of mourning for the victims of the Bondi terror attack, scheduled for Thursday, January 22. The day will be themed 'Light will win — a gathering of unity and remembrance', honoring the 15 lives lost at a Chanukah by the Sea event at Bondi Beach last month.
The national day will feature a variety of events, including flags flying at half-mast at government buildings across the country, with the private sector encouraged to follow suit. National institutions in Canberra and NSW will be illuminated, and a commemorative installation entitled '15 Pillars of Light' will be held in the nation's capital.
There will also be a nationwide minute's silence at 7.01 pm, which Mr. Albanese said television channels would be asked to participate in. The Prime Minister emphasized the importance of the day, stating, 'This will be a very important day of mourning. It will be an opportunity for us to pay respects as a nation to those people who lost their lives.'
Mr. Albanese has also encouraged Australians to consider leaving a candle at their windowsill or outside their homes on Thursday, and to do a good deed as a 'mitzvah for Bondi'. A mitzvah is an act of kindness or compassion, such as helping out a neighbor, checking on them, volunteering, or donating money. The Prime Minister said, 'It can be essentially any act of kindness as a part of paying tribute to the fifteen Australians who lost their lives on that tragic evening.'
The Chabad of Bondi will hold a special event in Sydney on Thursday night, featuring light displays and livestreamed. The event will be a dignified and inclusive gathering, with moments of remembrance, reflection, and symbolic acts of light, creating a shared space of strength and connection.
In Melbourne, Christian, Jewish, and Islamic leaders will gather for a multi-faith vigil at St. Paul's Cathedral to mark the national day. It will be the first time Australia has held a national day of mourning since the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022. A national day of mourning was also declared for February 6, 2010, to commemorate the 173 people who died in the Black Saturday bushfires in Victoria.
