Around 500 people attended the Candlelight Vigil at Victoria Park Lake, Shepparton on the evening of Friday 19 December, held in commemoration for all involved in the Sydney Siege.
The Walk and Candlelight Vigil at Sheppparton based on the Twitter hashtag #illridewithyou was organised by the Shepparton-based Al Kasem Youth Organisation, which is made up of young Muslims who want to give back to the community.
The youth group helped organise a candlelight vigil in Shepparton on Friday 19 December, to remember the victims of Sydney's Martin Place siege. The vigil is part of the #illridewithyou social media campaign.
Vigil participants set off on their walk around Victoria Park Lake
The #illridewithyou campaign trended on Twitter was an Australia show of support for Muslims in Australia which immediately went viral, worldwide, after the siege at the Lindt cafe.
During the siege gunman Man Haron Monis held 17 hostages for 16 hours. The siege ended with the deaths of cafe manager Tori Johnson, barrister Katrina Dawson and Monis himself.
Speakers at the event were Mayor Dennis Patterson, Dinny Adem of the Albanian Community and Mosque, and members from the Al Kasem Youth Organisation. The Candlelight vigil commenced after the Walk around Victoria Park Lake.
Members of the Al Kasem Youth Organisation at the conclusion of the Candlelight Vigil
The event commenced with the laying of flowers on the Candlelight Shrine and was immediately followed by a memorial walk around Victoria Park Lake, with ushers lighting the way for participants.
Local indigenous member Shane Charles gave the Welcome to Country and rendered a very touching tribute to those involved in the Sydney Siege with digeridoo.
President of the Albanian Mosque Dinny Adem gave a talk which emphasised the peaceful integration into the community by people of many disparate origins. Councillor Adem emphasised that Islam is a religion of peace and denounces violence in the name of religion.
Dinny Adems speaking at the Candlelight Vigil, Shepparton, 19 December
Speaker from Al Kasem Youth Organisation - Secretary Sarmed Yassin - spoke and told that it was important for the community to be able to pay tribute after the horrific siege at a Sydney cafe on Monday and Tuesday, where hostages Tori Johnson and Katrina Dawson died while trying to protect other hostages.
Sarmin Yassim of the Al Kasem Youth Organisation gives an address to the Candlelight Vigil
After a minute's silence, members of the community came foward to add their candles to the Candlelight Shrine.
View of people from Shepparton attending the #illridewith you - #illwalkwithyou Candlelight Vigil
View of people from Shepparton attending the #illridewith you - #illwalkwithyou Candlelight Vigil
Leaders of the faith communities of Shepparton, with Hon. Sharman Stone MP, at the Candlelight Vigil
Candlelight Vigil in memory of the Sydney Siege, Shepparton
All photographs courtesy Al Kasem Youth Organisation and Fine Capture Photography.
