People are laying flowers at a makeshift shrine in Sydney, honouring the victims of the Martin Place siege.
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THERE was a steady stream all day. Of tears. People laying flowers. And eulogies for the dead.
Martin Place — the scene of so much destruction and despair during the Lindt cafe siege was transformed yesterday as mourners created an extraordinary floral tribute to the victims of Sydney's hostage crisis.
A sea of flowers at Martin Place at 3.45pm / Picture: Bradley Hunter Source: News Corp Australia
Prime Minister Tony Abbott and his wife Margie lay flowers at the memorial in Martin Place. Picture: Bradley Hunter Source: News Corp Australia
Tears were shed as Lindt Cafe workers returned to the scene of the violent siege. Picture: Tim Hunter. Source: News Corp Australia
The amazing memorial to Katrina Dawson And Tori Johnson in Martin Place. Picture: Adam Ward Source: News Corp Australia
A woman believed to be a distraught Elly Chen and her grieving Lindt Cafe workmates. Picture: Tim Hunter. Source: News Corp Australia
They came all day, forming huge queues to lay flowers, sign condolence books and pay their respects.
By sundown the air, which just a few hours prior had been filled with gunshots, was thick with blossoming scent. People of all faiths, backgrounds and ages mixed like the mountain of gerberas, lilies and peonies on the piazza.
A mourner breaks down in tears and is comforted by her partner at Martin Place in Sydney following the deadly siege that took place at the Lindt Cafe. Picture: Richard Dobson Source: DailyTelegraph
The queue grows longer at 10pm / Picture: Richard Dobson. Source: DailyTelegraph
A woman handed tissues to wellwishers, many overcome with grief and no longer able to hold back the tears.
One man among them bows his shaved head, dutifully crosses his chest, and stands solemnly.
And after staring at the forest of flowers that were mounting on the Martin Place bricks, Michael Marzano goes to turn away, to face the day, and becomes undone.
Picture: Bradley Hunter Source: News Corp Australia
"I'm feeling bloody scared. It's awful, that someone would perpetrate that, just over there,'' the 49-year-old manager says, through piercing sobs.
The grieving Lindt Cafe group walks up Martin Place to lay flowers at the scene of the violent siege which claimed their manager. Picture: Tim Hunter. Source: News Corp Australia
Martin Place is becoming a sea of flowers. Picture: Bradley Hunter Source: News Corp Australia
City workers line up to buy flowers from florist George Lackerdis as empty buckets pay mute tribute to the depth of Sydneysiders' mourning. Picture: Adam Ward Source: News Corp Australia
His moment of sorrow is standard, here, today. Everyone is having a moment — and holding together as hard as they can.
"I couldn't afford to get here but I just told the taxi driver that I had to get to Martin Place and he replied: 'Get in — I'll take you'," one mourner explained.
Mourners gather at Martin Place / Picture: Richard Dobson Source: DailyTelegraph
It was, as many suggested, the way it should be. Life must go on. It's the only way we win, the only way to prove that such heinous, evil acts will never break us, contain us, nor define us.
"This is our way of fighting back. Getting on with things. Being strong. We have to do it for these guys who lost their lives,'' Mr Marzano said.
If Man Haron Monis's intention had been to divide Australians, he failed. The Australian Grant Mufti, Professor Ibrahim Abu Mohammed was among those who lay flowers at the makeshift shrine.
Mourners gather at Martin Place amid a sea of flowers / Picture: Richard Dobson Source: DailyTelegraph
He signed the condolence book before condemning Monis's cowardly siege. "Today we are here, all of us, Australians grieving our great loss," a spokesman for the Mufti, Sheikh Aref Chaker said.
"We will be standing united and strong with our fellow citizens and we will not allow anyone to rob us of our values of tolerance and peace."
Premier Mike Baird pays his respects at the memorial in Martin Place. Picture: Bradley Hunter Source: News Corp Australia
The growing mass of flowers at the Martin Place memorial. Picture: Adam Ward Source: News Corp Australia
In the morning rush hour, the masses gathering at Martin Place mostly range from high-powered lawyers and banking executives to secretaries and cafe staff, who all have interrupted their usual quick march to work, to take in the realities of terror. To pause. To pray. To lay some flowers at the colourful shrine that is steadily painting the bleak grey pavers.
By lunch, that collection was on the verge of spilling onto Castlereagh St. .
Today no one has their face engrossed in their smartphones, and ears are predominantly free from earphones. People are watching, they are quiet, their background instead is the eerie silence of a shocked city, plus a few arbitrary jackhammers from the pair of building sites that stare across Martin Place from each other.
No cars are honking their horns in indignation. There is no hurry, this day.
The first of the floral tributes stands alone at Martin Place at 5.45am yesterday / Picture: John Grainger Source: DailyTelegraph
Eason Chen, 2, visits the memorial. Picture: Bradley Hunter Source: News Corp Australia
A young mourner. Picture: Bradley Hunter Source: News Corp Australia
The media swamps Premier Mike Baird. Picture: Adam Ward Source: News Corp Australia
Activity in an around Martin Place this morning. Picture: Adam Ward Source: News Corp Australia
Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione visits the memorial in Martin Place. Picture: Bradley Hunter Source: News Corp Australia
Many Sydneysiders joined the Premier in laying flowers at the memorial. Picture: Adam Ward Source: News Corp Australia
An emotional mourner. Picture: Bradley Hunter Source: News Corp Australia
People from all walks of lay flowers at the memorial. Pic John Grainger Source: News Corp Australia
Zaahir Edries, Silma Ihram, Mariam Veiszadeh, Lydia Shelly and Ahmed Aboushabn visit the flower memorial in Martin Place. Picture: Bradley Hunter Source: News Corp Australia
People lay flowers at a memorial in Martin Place after the siege ended. Picture: John Grainger Source: News Corp Australia
The card from a wellwisher on one bouquet of flowers. Source: News Corp Australia
Erin Costelloe dropped flowers at Martin Place after the siege ended. Picture: John Grainger Source: News Corp Australia
Flowers left by a man at Martin Place after the siege ended. Picture: John Grainger Source: News Corp Australia
People walk out of St James station on their way to work. Picture: Getty Images Source: Getty Images
Commuters travel past police tape at Martin Place on their way to work. Picture: Getty Images Source: Getty Images
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