Eight Australians will be honoured for acting bravely during the Bondi Junction stabbing in Sydney in April 2024.
Joel Cauchi, 40, went on a six-minute stabbing spree at the Westfield Bondi Junction shopping centre, killing six people and injuring 10. Cauchi, who lived with schizophrenia and was in a “floridly psychotic” state, was shot dead when he rushed at police officers with a knife.
Dawn Singleton, 25, Ashlee Good, 38, Jade Young, 47, Pikria Darchia, 55, Yixuan Cheng, 27, and Faraz Tahir, 30, were killed.
On the second anniversary of the tragedy on 13 April, governor general Sam Mostyn announced special Australian Bravery Decorations to recognise eight people for their actions that fateful day.
“These bravery honourees are characterised by their selfless, courageous, and determined response in unspeakable and horrific circumstances. Every one of them showed strength, and profound courage, as they placed the safety of others above their own, demonstrating ultimate care for others,” Ms Mostyn said. “Their acts of bravery reflect the best of us, and remind us of the valour, compassion, and service that are enduring and present across our communities.”
Police inspector Amy Scott, who shot and stopped the attacker, was one of the people chosen for the honour. French citizens Silas Despreaux and Damien Jean Guerot were honoured for warning people and facing Cauchi using metal bollards on an escalator. They also helped by alerting inspector Scott and guiding her to him.
Security officers Muhammad Taha and Faraz Tahir were honoured for moving towards Cauchi even though they knew he was armed. Tahir was fatally stabbed during the attack.
Ashlee Good, one of the victims, was honoured for protecting her baby. She was attacked from behind but managed to get her child to safety before she died.
Noel McLaughlin was recognised for rushing to the scene when he was told his wife, Jade Young, had been stabbed. When he came face to face with Cauchi, he warned others nearby. He then went to his wife and tried to give her first aid, but she later died from her injuries.
Nurse Catherine Molihan was sitting in a cafe when she heard screams and realised something was wrong. She ran into a nearby shop with other people and the door was locked. But when she saw the injured security guards, she urged the manager to open it so she could help them.
She checked on Taha and told him to “hold on tight to the shirt” she used to stop the bleeding.
“And then I went down to Faraz,” she told Australian Associated Press. “I just gave him first aid and held his head and patted his beard and just talked to him, saying, ‘hang in there, Faraz’.”
Even two years later, she finds it hard to talk about that day. “It still does affect me. It was just an awful experience,” she said. “A nurse is just born to help and give and be kind to others. It was good that I was on the scene, because it saved someone else from seeing what I saw.”
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