‘It stays with you forever’: massacre heroes honoured
Eight people whose selfless courage saved lives during a bloody attack at a Sydney shopping mall will be honored with special bravery awards.
Two years after a knife-wielding man killed six people and injured a dozen others at Westfield Bondi Junction, Governor-General Sam Mostyn has unveiled a special Australian Orders of Courage honors list.
“These Bravery honorees are characterized by selfless, courageous and determined responses to unspeakable and horrific situations,” he said.
“Each demonstrated strength and profound courage by placing the safety of others above their own, placing the utmost care for others.”
Joel Cauchi killed Yixuan Cheng, Faraz Tahir, Jade Young, Pikria Darchia, Dawn Singleton and Ashlee Good during a six-minute rampage at the Westfield complex on April 13, 2024.
Cauchi, who lived with schizophrenia and was “extremely psychotic,” was fatally shot by police officer Amy Scott.
The six bravery medals recommended by the independent Australian Council for Decorations of Bravery include two posthumous awards.
Ashlee Good was attacked from behind while shopping with her young daughter in a stroller.
When Cauchi tried to attack his daughter, he attacked her and pushed her away.
Despite injuries that could have cost her life, Ms. Good was able to hand her daughter over to bystanders at a nearby store.
Security guards Muhammad Taha and Faraz Tahir were stabbed while responding to the incident, while Mr. Tahir was fatally injured.
Frenchmen Silas Despréaux and Damien Guerot confronted Cauchi and used metal poles to stop his attack before finding Inspector Scott and taking him to his location.
Cauchi attacked Inspector Scott, firing three shots, fatally wounding him.
Nurse Catherine Molihan, who will receive the Brave Conduct Award, told AAP “this will stay with you forever”.
He was in a cafe when the sounds of screaming alerted him to the incident.
Ms. Molihan entered a nearby shop with others and the door was locked, but when she saw Mr. Taha and Mr. Tahir, she insisted the store manager open the door so she could help them.
The warden said he didn’t know if he could let her back in, but she insisted he open the doors.
“All I could think about was helping those two guys I could see,” he said.
“I need to get out of this store and go there and help; it’s just a natural instinct.”
He assessed Mr Taha and told him to “hold on to his shirt”, which he used to stop the bleeding.
“Then I went to Faraz… I gave him first aid, held his head, stroked his beard and talked to him, saying ‘hold on for a while, Faraz’.”
Even though two years have passed, he still has difficulty describing the events of that day.
“It still affects me. It was a terrible experience,” he said.
“”A nurse was born to help, give and be kind to others. “It’s a good thing I was at the scene because it prevented anyone else from seeing what I saw.”
The second award for bravery will go to Noel McLaughlin, who responded to a call reporting his wife Jade Young had been stabbed.
When he encountered the attacker, he warned bystanders of the threat and gave first aid to his wife, who later died of her injuries.
In February, NSW coroner Teresa O’Sullivan published a report exposing major failures in mental health services and safety, resulting in 23 recommendations.
AWARDS OF BONDI JUNCTION HEROES:
Medal of Bravery (UN):
* Silas Despreaux
* Ashlee Good (december)
* Damien Jean Guerot
* Detective Inspector Amy Scott
* Muhammad Taha
* Faraz Tahir (december)
Brave Conduct Commendation:
*Noel McLaughlin
*Catherine Ann Molihan
