Sydney siege anniversary ‘extremely difficult’

Lindt Cafe manager Tori Johnson and barrister Katrina Dawson have been remembered with moving musical tributes and a montage of the floral and written tributes that stacked up outside the site of last year’s Sydney siege.

When the siege was compared to recent attacks in Paris Ms Moore stood firm on her belief that Sydney had not been the victim of an act of terror.

“The guarantee I give now is that we as law enforcers will do absolutely everything we can to prevent this kind of happening again”.

The sister of Lindt Cafe siege victim Tori Johnson has broken down while paying tribute to her “beautiful big brother”.

Those flowers will now be immortalised as part of a permanent memorial in Martin Place in downtown Sydney, not far from the Lindt cafe where gunman Man Haron Monis held 18 people hostage for 16 hours.

Baird praised the outpouring of support following the siege by Sydney-siders and Australians alike, primarily illustrated by the sea of flowers in Sydney’s Martin Place that brought hope to a damaged city in the face of great diversity. “We stand in hope”, he said.

Hundreds of flowers will light up Martin Place to commemorate the Sydney siege, which took place on December 15 a year ago after NSW Premier Mike Baird unveiled the preliminary design of the memorial today.

Ms Dawson’s family said the public’s support is helping them cope on the first anniversary of the tragic event, The Australian newspaper reported.

“We will not be stared down by those who want to bring evil to this city, those who want to divide us”.

“I want to thank them on behalf of the community but also give an assurance to the community”, Commissioner Scipione said.

The family of Katrina Dawson said they had been overwhelmed by support and generosity of people.

Their families, including Dawson’s two children, were present on Tuesday for musical tributes: Somewhere Over the Rainbow for Dawson, and Melodrama by Andrea Bocelli for Johnson.

The public can attend the ceremony at viewing points between Phillip and Macquarie Streets, as well as Elizabeth and Castlereagh Streets in Martin Place.

“I think it’s a good time just to reflect on everything, to see people I haven’t seen in a while and really remember Tori and Katrina”.

“Today is one such day”.

The panic and resulting tragedy of that harrowing summer day has been replaced with messages of hope, love and solidarity projected upon the building in which the cafe is located.

“The memorial was designed by Richard Johnson and features hundreds of floral cubes inset into new granite paving right across Martin Place”.

The Lindt cafe was lit up for the anniversary of the fatal siege that happened there.