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Bondi Tapas Bar Besa Brings Madrid Energy to Hall Street

A new Bondi tapas bar is set to open this Sunday, arriving at a moment when the beachside suburb could use a reason to celebrate. Besa, a Spanish-inspired venue from the team behind celebrated Sydney restaurants Nour and Aalia, opens at 75–79 Hall Street on 1 March, bringing a hatted chef, weekend DJs and a menu built around serious drinking food.

The venue is the latest from ESCA Hospitality Group, whose portfolio also includes Japanese bar-restaurant Joji and charcoal chicken spot Henrietta — with one Henrietta already operating nearby in the Hall Street Hub precinct that Besa is joining. The group’s executive chef, Ibrahim Kasif, who earned chefs’ hats at Nour in Surry Hills, has developed the opening menu alongside head chef Alan Kropman, whose background includes time at the iconic Bondi restaurant Sean’s Panorama.

The 65-seat space — compact by design — takes its cues from the buzzy, high-density bars of Madrid. Architect Matt Darwon has fitted the room with deliberately torn acoustic panels on the ceiling, which co-founder and creative director Ibrahim Moubadder says resemble flowers. Warm timbers, circular booths and deep red tones give the interior a moody, cinematic quality that sits apart from Bondi’s usual sun-bleached aesthetic. Kasif himself described the space as feeling like a film set.

Besa — Spanish for “kiss” — slides into the former home of Pasticceria Papa, next door to newcomers Salumeria and chocolate bar Cocoa & Bean, and across the street from Harris Farm and the perennially busy Da Orazio. It joins Alzado, the Spanish restaurant that launched late last year at Hotel Ravesis on the corner of Hall Street and Campbell Parade, making it the second Spanish venue to set up in the suburb in recent months.

The food leans into the “good drinking food” philosophy Kasif described during the menu’s development. Standout dishes include a fideua negra — squid ink egg noodles served with grilled chicken and aioli — along with blue mackerel and Spanish pickles on butter leaf, a dish Kropman brought to the table himself. Rather than a full dessert menu, Besa will rotate a small selection of daily specials, drawing from options including Basque cheesecake, crema Catalana and churros. The cocktail list takes its inspiration from the classic Spanish novel Don Quixote.

The opening is also a show of confidence in Bondi at a difficult time. Moubadder, who has personal history with the suburb as a young immigrant and has watched it incubate food brands including Oporto and Fishbowl, said he witnessed the direct impact of the December 2024 shooting on trade at Henrietta, which opened just weeks before the incident. He expressed concern for fellow operators who have continued to feel the effects on foot traffic.

Besa is open for lunch Friday to Sunday and dinner Tuesday to Sunday. Moubadder has floated the idea of a future sibling venue in a Sydney city laneway, though nothing has been confirmed.

Virgin Active Bondi Junction: Inside Elka Whalan’s Fitness Routine at the Social Wellness Club

Virgin Active

Former Olympic swimmer Elka Whalan has shared how she balances fitness and recovery at the new Virgin Active Social Wellness Club inside Westfield Bondi Junction, praising the 2500 square metre facility for its recovery technology, Pilates classes and convenience for eastern suburbs families juggling work, children and training.

Whalan, who competed at the Sydney and Athens Olympics and now lives in the eastern suburbs with her husband Thomas Whalan, a former Olympic water polo player, and their four children, says the Bondi Junction facility allows her to combine shopping with workouts while accessing recovery tools she describes as unexpected inside a shopping centre. The club features an infrared sauna, cold plunge pool, heated marble recovery slab and hydrotherapy spa, alongside specialised Reformer Pilates Towers and Lift Club strength training classes.

The two-time Olympian, formerly known as Elka Graham before her marriage, has six Olympics appearances between her and her husband and describes recovery as just as important as exercise when raising four children while staying active and fit. She says the body needs the best engine, the best fuel and the best care possible, and the Bondi Junction facility delivers recovery technology she would not expect to find in a Westfield shopping centre.

Recovery Focus and Early Morning Classes

Whalan attends 5:30am classes at the Bondi Junction club, maintaining discipline and focus despite no longer training at Olympic level. She describes the flexibility of being able to work out hard while ensuring her body, brain and muscles recover properly as essential for keeping up with children and maintaining fitness around work and family commitments.

Elka Whalan shares her Virgin Active fitness routine — *Photo Credit: Queenhood*

The Virgin Active Bondi Junction club opened on 24 July 2025 as the brand’s first Social Wellness Club globally, replacing the former David Jones Food Hall on Level 1 of Westfield Bondi Junction at 500 Oxford Street. The facility operates as an all-day luxury social wellness destination, combining fitness, recovery, nutrition and social experiences under one roof with membership including access to co-working spaces, a health food café and luxury changing rooms fitted with Grown Alchemist toiletries and Dyson hair styling tools.

Virgin Active co-working space — *Photo Credit: Virgin Active*

The launch event, hosted by television presenter Laura Csortan, featured appearances by Bondi Rescue lifeguards Hoppo and Deano, actor and model Jodi Gordon, television presenter Sally Obermeder, and a message from Virgin founder Sir Richard Branson. Virgin Active Global CEO Dean Kowarski described the space as designed to meet the realities of modern life, bringing together movement, recovery, productivity and connection to address what he characterised as a loneliness pandemic by creating spaces where people can socialise, make friends and form real communities.

Eastern Suburbs Fitness Culture Attracts High-Profile Members

Bondi Beach and Sydney’s eastern suburbs have built a reputation around health and fitness, with elite athletes and recognisable personalities living and training in the area. The lifestyle continues to shape demand for premium training spaces in Bondi Junction.

Virgin Active Bondi Junction has drawn influencers, reality television figures and professional sportspeople with its central location and range of facilities. Members track muscle mass, hydration and body fat through body composition scanning, and train on TechnoGym’s Artis range and Eleiko strength equipment. Programs include Reformer Pilates Towers and Lift Club, a structured six-week strength training block led by coaches.

Recovery Facilities and Member Access

Recovery plays a key role in the club’s offering. Members use Finnish and infrared saunas, a cold plunge pool, hydrotherapy spa and a heated marble slab designed for stretching and relaxation. Semi-private suites provide access to percussion therapy devices and compression boots.

The club also includes a business lounge for members balancing work commitments and an on-site café serving post-workout meals. It operates Monday to Thursday from 5:30am to 10pm, 5:30am to 9pm on Fridays, and 6:30am to 7pm on weekends, with public holidays generally following weekend hours. Introductory membership starts at $99 per week, with access to both the new facility and Virgin Active’s existing Bondi Junction club on Bronte Road, which opened in December 2019. More information is available here.

Published 22-February-2026.

Handmade Bracelet Campaign Raises More Than $40K in Wake of Bondi Beach Terror Attack

@bigmonya/Instagram

Valentine Meyerson, an 11-year-old Year 6 student from Bondi Beach, has raised more than $40,000 for the family of Matilda through a handmade beaded bracelet campaign that began in the days following the 14 December 2025 terror attack at Archer Park and has now reached supporters in Canada, the United States and Israel.

Matilda, aged 10, was the youngest victim of the terror attack on the Chanukah by the Sea Hanukkah celebration that killed 15 people and wounded more than 40 others. Valentine, who lives in Bondi and is close to Matilda’s age, felt compelled to act after watching news coverage of the massacre unfold in her own community. She began handmaking yellow beaded bracelets featuring bee motifs in memory of Matilda and to spread her legacy, with all proceeds going directly to Matilda’s family.

Valentine describes seeing news of the massacre as heartbreaking, particularly because Matilda was around her own age. She says she wants to show the people killed or injured in the terror attack that they are not forgotten and never will be. The attack hit close to home for the Meyerson family, who are part of Bondi’s Russian Jewish community and lost friends in the tragedy. Valentine’s grandfather’s best friends attended the event, and most were shot. He was overseas at the time, or he would have been there too.

Bees on Wrists and a Trip to Disneyland

Valentine’s mother, Lexy Meyerson, says her daughter chose to create the bee bracelets and fundraise for Matilda’s family after being emotionally affected by news reports. The bracelets are symbolic and lasting, with the bee motif a deliberate reference to Matilda’s nickname. What scared Valentine is that Chanukah by the Sea is an event the Meyerson family would normally attend every year. It’s their Jewish Russian community, which makes the tragedy even closer.

Bracelets in wake of the December 2025 terror attack — *Photo Credit: @bigmonya/Instagram*

The family has received support in the form of supplies from community members in Bondi and in the Southern Highlands where they are temporarily staying during construction at their home. Valentine’s friends and school teachers have assisted with the bracelet-making process. Supporters across Australia, from the east coast to Western Australia, have received the bracelets, and organisers have also delivered them internationally to supporters in Canada, the United States and Israel.

Valentine says that while making the bracelets is hard and repetitive, she feels motivated to continue. What gives her the power to keep going is that she is not putting aside what happened. Her goals are to send Matilda’s sister Summer to Disneyland on a holiday and to expand her fundraising and awareness campaign to stop these things from happening again.

Processing Grief Through Action

Lexy and Alan Meyerson say they are proud of Valentine’s work. They will meet the family in the coming days, and the father says the daughter’s efforts have amazed him. She thinks it will be beautiful for Valentine to meet the family.

In the days following the attack, Valentine wept tears through lighting the menorah. Her father Alan says she was watching a lot of live news in the days after the attack and had been looking for a way to process her sadness and anger. To see a girl around her age as a victim, she took it close to home. She still doesn’t understand how people can do this.

The Peace Hive project and the Matilda Bee Bracelet Project, as Valentine’s initiative has become known, represents one of many community-led responses to the 14 December terror attack. The broader recovery effort continues across Bondi Beach and the surrounding area, with embedded support services now operating through local organisations, a Medicare Mental Health Centre at Bondi Junction providing free confidential services, and a $1 million grants program funding 24 organisations to deliver community-designed mental health and resilience programs.

For anyone still seeking support following the Bondi Beach terror attack, the 24-hour support line on 1800 595 212 directs callers to appropriate services, including crisis response, psychological support and family support, and operates seven days a week including public holidays and Shabbat.

Published 20-February-2026.

Bondi Beach Recovery Hub at the Pavilion Shifts to Long-Term Embedded Community Supports

The recovery hub operating at the Bondi Pavilion has transitioned to a streamlined format, marking a new phase in the community response to the 14 December 2025 terror attack at Bondi Beach, with Lifeline and Legal Aid NSW continuing to operate on-site while broader supports embed permanently within local organisations.

The recovery hub opened in the days immediately following the attack, which killed 15 people and wounded more than 40 others at the annual “Chanukah by the Sea” Hanukkah celebration held at Archer Park, just east of the Pavilion. In the two months since, the hub has recorded more than 1,400 visits, seen more than 650 applications lodged with Victims Support Services, and helped more than 400 businesses access support. With the majority of people now registered with available services, the Pavilion continues to operate as the community’s anchor point, but the structure of support has evolved to meet what residents need next.

For the Bondi Beach community, the transition represents a shift from crisis response to sustained care. The hub now offers Lifeline for mental health support and Legal Aid NSW to assist with ongoing Victims Support applications. All other supports are moving into the fabric of local organisations, so that residents, business owners and anyone still working through the aftermath of the attack can access help through familiar, trusted channels rather than a single central location.

What the Embedded Supports Look Like

Community Resilience and Engagement Officers have been placed within eight organisations across the area, including Surf Life Saving NSW and Waverley Council, to deliver tailored long-term support and ensure community voices continue to be heard as needs change over time. Their role spans active outreach, connecting people to appropriate services, and feeding back to coordinators on what the community is experiencing week to week.

A pop-up Medicare Mental Health Centre is now operating at Bondi Junction, providing confidential mental health information and services free of charge. No appointment or referral is needed. A $1 million grants program has funded 24 organisations to deliver their own community-designed programs, including weekly mental health workshops for children and young people, a safe drop-in space for community connection, school-based programs and Jewish community gatherings focused on cultural healing.

Resilience Support Services funding will enable specialised counselling, community outreach and other essential services to continue both in person and by phone, including through local multicultural services and youth organisations.

Coordinators General Michele Goldman and Joseph La Posta are continuing their engagement with the Bondi community to ensure that those affected have access to long-term support for as long as they need it.

Finding Support

For anyone still seeking support following the Bondi Beach attack, the following services remain available. Lifeline and Legal Aid NSW continue to operate at the Bondi Pavilion. The 24-hour support line on 1800 979 676 directs callers to the service most appropriate for their needs, including crisis response, meals, financial assistance, psychological support and family support. The service operates seven days a week including public holidays and Shabbat.

Victims Support Services can be reached through the Victims Services Critical Incident Line on 1800 411 822, available Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm. The Medicare Mental Health Centre at Bondi Junction is open to everyone with no appointment or referral needed. For JewishCare’s dedicated Bondi Terror Attack Grant and support services, information is available here. Donations to the Unite for Bondi appeal can be made here and are tax deductible.

Published 17-February-2026.

Israeli President Lays Wreath at Memorial for Victims of Bondi Beach Attacks

Israel in Australia / Facebook

Israeli President Isaac Herzog visited Bondi Beach today to lay a wreath and memorial stones for the 15 victims of the Bondi Beach attacks during a Hanukkah celebration on December 14, meeting families and survivors during his four-day Australia visit

Herzog arrived at the Bondi Pavilion under tight security and paid his respects at the rain-swept memorial site. He brought two stones from Jerusalem to place at the memorial, saying they would remain at Bondi to remind people that bonds between people of all faiths will hold strong in the face of violence and hatred.

The visit marked the first stop of Herzog’s Australian trip, coming at the invitation of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese following Australia’s worst mass shooting in almost 30 years. The president met privately with families who lost loved ones and survivors still recovering from injuries sustained in the attack.

Bondi Community’s Ongoing Remembrance

The Bondi Pavilion memorial site has become a focal point for the community since the December attack. In the days and weeks following the tragedy, residents and visitors laid vast quantities of flowers at the site and added thousands of candles, stuffed toys, and handwritten messages to pay their respects.

Bondi Beach attacks — *Photo Credit: Michelle Stephenson / Instagram*

Sydney Jewish Museum and local artist Nina Sanadze collected every flower from the memorial to preserve them for artwork commemorating the attack. The flowers will be transformed into permanent installations that honour the victims while bringing the community together through art.

On December 21, exactly one week after the attack, more than 10,000 people gathered at Bondi Beach for a candlelight vigil as part of the national Day of Reflection. Australians across the country lit candles at 6:42pm to mark the moment the attack began, with television and radio networks observing one minute of silence.

Community Support and Recovery

The Bondi community response extended beyond memorials, with over 50,000 people volunteering to donate blood following requests from Lifeblood. Hundreds of women and girls dressed in white joined Governor-General Sam Mostyn in laying flowers at the memorial during the week of remembrance.

Indigenous leaders conducted a traditional smoking ceremony at the Bondi Pavilion, while the Sydney Opera House shone with candlelight as part of the national day of reflection. Authorities lit the Sydney Harbour Bridge and buildings across the city in yellow to show solidarity with those affected.

Bondi Beach attacks candlelight — *Photo Credit: 22 Grams / Facebook*

Fifteen people aged 10 to 87 died in the attack during the Jewish festival celebration. Syrian-Australian shop owner Ahmed al-Ahmed has been hailed as a hero for disarming one of the attackers, an action that likely saved additional lives. A GoFundMe campaign raised nearly $2 million to support al-Ahmed’s recovery.

Herzog’s Broader Visit

Following his time at Bondi Beach, Herzog will travel to Melbourne and Canberra before returning to Israel on Thursday. Sydney and Melbourne are home to 85 percent of Australia’s Jewish population, with Bondi Beach and its surrounding eastern suburbs hosting a significant Jewish community that traces back to Holocaust survivors and other immigrants who settled in the area starting in the 1940s.

Herzog said people of all faiths will overcome the violence together, emphasising that the attack targeted not just the Jewish community but the values shared by Australians. His visit includes meetings with senior officials across the political spectrum throughout his time in Australia.

Published 9-February-2026.

Hope for Hartley: Bondi Families Come Together to Raise Awareness of CDKL5

Hope for Hartley / Instagram

Residents at The Moreton apartment complex are coming together for a morning of family fun and community activities, bringing hope for Hartley while raising awareness of a rare neurological disorder that affects just 1,500 people worldwide.

Baby Hartley Jayne Gunn, who lives at the Mirvac development on Wellington Street with her parents Jess and Steve and big brothers Reggie and Teddy, was diagnosed with CDKL5 deficiency disorder at just eight weeks old when seizures first began. Her family and neighbours are transforming the building’s landscaped courtyard into a hub of fundraising and awareness on Saturday, February 7.

The event runs from 10am to 12pm and will bring together Bondi families for food, drinks, live music, face painting and children’s entertainment. Residents registered through the TryBooking platform, though bookings have now closed for the community gathering.

A Devastating Diagnosis That Changes Everything

CDKL5 is one of the rarest and most severe genetic conditions, causing hard-to-control seizures that begin in infancy and can occur daily. Children with the disorder face severe developmental challenges, with many never learning to walk, talk or feed themselves independently. The condition also brings vision problems, scoliosis, low muscle tone, and breathing difficulties, often requiring lifelong 24-hour care.

There is currently no cure and no treatment for CDKL5.

Hartley was born on May 6, 2025, and her seizures started when she was just two months old. Since then, her family has watched their tiny daughter endure hospital stays and medical battles while showing remarkable resilience. Her parents describe her as pure light, love and courage wrapped into one tiny soul.

View this post on Instagram

The family dreams of hearing Hartley’s voice demanding the world like her brothers do, and watching her toes dance in the sand on Bondi Beach.

Community Support Spans Beyond The Moreton

The family fun day represents immediate neighbourhood support, while a broader fundraising campaign has already raised more than $85,000 toward a $100,000 goal through GoFundMe. The Hope for Hartley campaign was organised by Anna Bender from nearby Tamarama, with all funds going directly toward Hartley’s medical care, therapies and CDKL5 research.

Hartley requires extensive physical, occupational and speech therapy, along with specialised medical equipment and ongoing hospital care. The financial burden on the family is immense as they work to give Hartley the best possible chance while continuing to build their life in Australia.

Beyond the February 7 event, community members can support the family through a raffle featuring prizes from local Bondi businesses including Slowhouse, Peaches Pilates and Nimbus. The raffle remains open to those who cannot attend the morning gathering.

Building a Future Surrounded by Possibilities

The Moreton’s courtyard, set among heritage Moreton Bay fig trees between Ocean Street and Wellington Street, provides a green setting for the fundraiser. The building’s communal gardens and outdoor entertainment areas have become gathering spots for the development’s families since it opened in stages from 2017.

Jess and Steve remain committed to giving all three of their children the very best chance in life. They want Hartley to grow up surrounded by possibilities rather than limitations, believing that with enough love, support and hope, she can achieve far more than medical expectations might suggest.

The family fun day and ongoing fundraising efforts reflect the tight-knit networks that define Bondi’s residential neighbourhoods, where apartment communities rally around families facing extraordinary challenges.

You can let the organisers know you’re coming by RSVPing here, or show your support by grabbing raffle tickets here.

Published 6-February-2026.

Brisbane City Official Pays Tribute At Bondi Beach Massacre Site

Photo Credit: NSW Jewish Board of Deputies/Facebook

Brisbane LM Adrian Schrinner has visited the Bondi Beach massacre site, meeting with Jewish community leaders and conveying messages of condolence following the December attack.

Visit To Bondi Beach Memorial Area

Mr Schrinner spent time at Bondi Beach, where the attack occurred, quietly visiting the site and nearby memorials. The visit centred on reflection and acknowledgement of the impact on victims, their families and the wider Jewish community.

He was accompanied by David Ossip, President of the New South Wales Jewish Board of Deputies, and Jason Steinberg, President of the Queensland Jewish Board of Deputies.

During the visit, personal messages were written on stones and placed at the memorial in accordance with Jewish mourning customs. The group also walked to a nearby bridge connected to the location of the attack.

Background: Bondi Beach Attack

The Bondi Beach attack occurred on Sunday, 14 December 2025, resulting in deaths, injuries and widespread distress among families, first responders and the broader community.

In the period following the attack, mental health and wellbeing services were established across the Bondi area to support those affected.

Bondi Beach memorial — *Photo Credit: NSW Jewish Board of Deputies/Facebook*

Condolence Messages From Brisbane Residents

As part of the visit, Mr Schrinner presented a bound condolence book to Mr Ossip on behalf of Brisbane residents. The book contained handwritten messages gathered in the days following the attack and had been left at Brisbane City Hall.

A formal letter of condolence was also provided, expressing sympathy to the Jewish community in Sydney and beyond.

community remembrance — *Photo Credit: NSW Jewish Board of Deputies/Facebook*

Continued Presence At Bondi Beach

The delegation met with Neach Koncepolski, chazan of Coogee Synagogue, who has remained at Bondi Beach since shortly after the attack. He has continued to greet visitors and encourage expressions of faith and continuity at the site.

Members of the public have continued to visit the memorial area, laying stones and observing mourning practices.

Bondi Beach visit — *Photo Credit: NSW Jewish Board of Deputies/Facebook*

Support Services And Community Uptake

Crisis support has been available at Bondi Pavilion through a Lifeline drop-in service operating daily between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., including public holidays.

A Medicare pop-up mental health hub at 59 Newland Street, Bondi, has offered free weekday support with uncapped sessions, no referral requirements and access to translation services.

Since 14 December 2025, more than 1,300 visits have been recorded at the Bondi Community Hub, while more than 650 applications have been lodged with victim support services. Assistance has also been provided to more than 400 local businesses.

Outlook

The Bondi Beach visit formed part of ongoing remembrance following the December attack, alongside continued access to support services for individuals and communities affected.

Published 6-Feb-2026

Local Families Urged to Stay Alert as Bondi Beach Tops National Drowning Statistics

Photo Credit: Unsplash

Bondi Beach has been identified as one of the most dangerous spots in the country following a spike in coastal tragedies that has put the local community on high alert.

The current summer season has proven to be the deadliest in nearly a decade, with ten people losing their lives in the water since July. In an alarming start to 2026, seven of those deaths happened within the first five days of January alone.

Data from Royal Life Saving Australia shows that Bondi and Maroubra have recorded the highest number of fatal incidents in Sydney’s east over the last two decades. While the official count focuses on sandy beach entries, the actual number of lives lost is much higher when including accidents near rock pools and fishing spots.

A Generation at Risk

Bondi Beach — *Photo Credit:* *Royal Life Saving*

The recent rise in water accidents is linked to a gap in swimming skills caused by the pandemic. Amy Peden from Royal Life Saving Society Australia explained that lockdowns prevented a whole generation of children from attending regular swimming lessons. This lack of basic training has created a dangerous situation as more families return to the water.

Additionally, the way people use the coast has changed. Many people now try to find remote or unmonitored spots to avoid crowds, which puts them far away from the help of professional lifesavers.

Challenges for New Residents

The raw power of the Australian ocean often catches newcomers off guard, especially those from countries without coastlines. Surf lifesavers have noticed that migrants and tourists may not understand how to read the water or manage the panic that sets in during a struggle.

Groups from Nepal and South Korea have been identified as being at higher risk because they might be unfamiliar with local conditions like the “Backpackers’ Express” rip current at the southern end of Bondi. To help, surf clubs are running special programmes to teach newcomers how to stay safe and respect the strength of the surf.

Safety Through Community Action

Local authorities are worried that even though people hear safety warnings, they often do not think an accident will happen to them. Steve Pearce of Surf Lifesaving NSW described the recent loss of life as horrendous and urged everyone to be more cautious. Men make up the vast majority of drowning victims, often due to taking unnecessary risks or overestimating their swimming ability.

Community leaders are now calling for everyone to look out for one another and stick to patrolled areas where lifeguards can see them. Simple choices, like staying between the red and yellow flags, remain the best way to ensure a day at the beach ends safely for every family.

Published Date 02-February-2026

Bondi Hero Ahmed Al Ahmed Receives City’s Highest Honour

Photo Credit: City of Canterbury Bankstown

A Bondi Beach hero who stopped a gunman during the nation’s worst terror attack has been recognised with the highest honour the City of Canterbury Bankstown can bestow.

Ahmed al Ahmed, 43, became the first person to receive the key to the City of Canterbury Bankstown at an Australia Day awards ceremony, more than a month after he wrestled a gun away from one of two attackers who targeted a Hanukkah celebration on 14 December.

The Syrian-Australian was shot multiple times during his intervention, which authorities say prevented further loss of life during the attack that killed 15 people and injured more than 40 others.

Taking to the stage at the ceremony, Mr al Ahmed said he still carried a “big hurt” in his body, with two bullets remaining lodged in his arm.

“I didn’t expect to receive it but [it’s] something very nice and thank you for everything,” he said outside the ceremony.

Mayor Bilal El-Hayek described Mr al Ahmed as a “true blue local hero” and said the award was fitting recognition of his courage.

“This is the highest honour a city can give and it is the first time it has been presented by the City of Canterbury Bankstown,” Mayor El-Hayek said.

“Congratulations and thank you Ahmed.”

At a separate Australia Day ceremony, Premier Chris Minns also praised the fruit shop owner’s actions.

“I think what Ahmed’s story shows us, and this is often the case … is that some of our most patriotic Australians are the newly arrived,” Mr Minns said.

“Those who’ve decided to become Australian.”

Following the terror attack at Bondi Beach, Mr al Ahmed spent a fortnight in St George Hospital in Sydney’s south, where he underwent surgery for gunshot wounds.

Video footage from the attack, which has been viewed millions of times globally, shows Mr al Ahmed tackling one of the gunmen and disarming him. According to reports, he was shot by the second attacker whilst intervening (NBC News, CBS News).

A GoFundMe campaign established for Mr al Ahmed raised close to $2 million from around 40,000 donors, including American billionaire hedge fund manager William Ackman (CBS News).

The 14 December attack, which occurred during the first night of Hanukkah, has been declared a terrorist incident by Australian authorities. Police identified the attackers as a father and son who were inspired by Islamic State ideology.

Published 26-January-2026

Bondi Beach Memorial Flowers to Become Permanent Museum Artwork

Volunteers have spent weeks carefully preserving thousands of floral tributes from the Bondi Beach memorial at Bondi Pavilion, ensuring the community’s response to December’s terror attack lives on through a permanent commemorative artwork.

The Sydney Jewish Museum commissioned the preservation work after Waverley removed the temporary memorial, with senior curator Shannon Biederman leading the effort to save as much as possible.

The team had just days before Christmas to arrange trucks, find storage that would accept perishable items and secure flower drying solutions—a logistical challenge made more meaningful by what the tributes represent.

More Than Just Flowers

Beyond the thousands of bouquets, the memorial included hand-painted stones, teddies, cards and deeply personal items like a pair of shoes left by 10-year-old Matilda’s family.

Biederman connects to that loss on a personal level. She had tickets to the December 14 Chanukah by the Sea event and takes her kids every year, but changed plans at the last minute. Her daughter is also 10.

The curator has spent more than 20 years working with Holocaust survivors on their testimonies, learning to compartmentalise when the work becomes overwhelming. Sometimes that’s the only way to keep going.

Transforming Tributes Into Art

On Christmas Eve, volunteers gathered at a rented storage facility to sort through the flowers, hanging them on fencing to help with drying. Rain fell as they worked, a moment Biederman found strangely fitting.

Melbourne artist Nina Sanadze, already working with the museum on another exhibition when the attack happened, now leads the artistic transformation. She’s ironing dried petals, pressing flowers by species and colour, and enclosing some in silicone.

Even the decayed portions won’t go to waste—the team plans to turn them into compost for seating at the museum.

Sanadze says the project won’t result in a single artwork but many different pieces, each reflecting how strongly the flowers convey grief.

The work takes an emotional toll. Sanadze copes by burying herself in the project while drawing strength from her community. For her, art repairs the world by turning decay into messages of love and hope.

A Story of Unity

Biederman found reading the handwritten messages particularly difficult. She had to stop when the words became too upsetting.

She also knew Rabbi Eli Schlanger, one of the 15 victims, and remembers him as the most beautiful person.

The Sydney Jewish Museum remains closed for redevelopment, with exhibitions set to reopen in late 2026. The team continues refining their plans for how the commemorative artwork will take shape within that space.

Biederman sees the preserved tributes as evidence of something positive emerging from tragedy—a unity story told through tokens of love and support when the Jewish community needed it most.

The preservation work for the Bondi Beach memorial flowers continues more than a month after the attack, with grief still fresh for many in the community.

Published 20-Jan-2026