Children meet responders; explore emergency vehicles

Children from families impacted by the Chanukah terror attack at Bondi Beach attended a supportive community gathering on Sunday designed to help address their anxiety around emergency services and sirens.

The event, held in the morning at Rodney Reserve in Dover Heights, emerged from discussions between Bondi survivors and the NSW Government’s Bondi Community Response team, led by the Premier’s Department.

Parents had shared that their children were feeling anxious and traumatised when they heard or saw emergency management vehicles and personnel.

“We thought it would be useful for kids to be given the chance to meet the first responders and know that they are there to help them,” said Bondi Community Response deputy coordinator general Hannah Damkar.

The event was kept small and shared directly with affected families through trusted networks, allowing children to take their time and feel comfortable in a safe and controlled environment.

NSW Police coordinated multiple emergency services to attend, including three helicopters. Children climbed into police cars, fire trucks, ambulances and helicopters, switched on sirens, used radios, met police dogs and horses, and watched helicopters land and take off. Jewish emergency response organisation Hatzolah also participated.

Damkar said there has been lovely feedback from families, who told her it was a beautiful event and that they really appreciate the time first responders spent patiently talking to the children and showing them all of the equipment.

The kids left feeling that police and other first responders are there to help them, and they are much more comfortable with the noises and sirens now they know how it all works.

Kesser Torah College principal Rabbi Yaacov Chaiton said: “In a time when our community continues to navigate the effects of the Bondi Attack, the day went a very long way in helping families rebuild trust, feel safe, supported and uplifted.”

The event was supported by the Premier’s Department, coordinator general for the Bondi Community Response Joseph La Posta, Kesser Torah College’s Parents and Friends Association, Jewish House and the Rabbinical Council of New South Wales.

Kesser Torah College was disproportionally affected by the terror attack at Bondi on December 14, in which 15 people were killed.