At the lower end of Wollongong's Crown Street Mall hundreds gathered to stand together in the face of terrorism on Monday evening.
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Leaders of different faiths stood among families, children, local politicians, police - many of different nationalities - as a peace vigil and to honour the victims of last Friday's Christchurch massacre.
"I refuse to be made to feel scared, so coming to this is a crowd where you can feel like everybody is united in their distress," said Diane Olney of Mangerton. "It's a devastating thing that's happened."
Sharon Callaghan of Wollongong said everyone needs to look to a positive future, with "love really the only way through".
"You can't let acts of horror like this define our shared humanity, we really have to just keep showing how much we care for each other," she said.
Through uplifting song people hugged and joined arms, and by the end of the night strangers shook hands and wished peace to each other.
"What a wonderful diverse community that has gathered," Reverend Geoff Flynn of the Wesley Church told the crowd. "I hope this will be a practical experience for you for building peace in the Illawarra."
Imam Sheik Abdul Rahman and Omar Mosque chairman Dr Munir Hussain called for an end to Islamaphobia, and blamed politicians and certain media outlets for their negative portrayal of their religion which they believed fueled hatred.
However Sheik Rahman said large turnout to the vigil was "proof" there were people left in the world ready to care for each other.
"Ibraham, Moses, Jesus, Mohammed ... they came to bring peace to the people, no prophet or messenger came to the people and said kill each other," he said. "Terrorists have no nationality, they can affect anyone of us."
Just after rain started to softly touch the masses a minutes silence was observed for each person who had died.
An operatic version of traditional Maori song Pokarekare Ana was performed by Goknur Shanal, before two wreaths were presented members of the Islamic community.
Reverend Miao You from the Nan Tien Temple was the last of the speakers with a peace prayer and urged the congregation to hug their neighbours.