Recounting the Sydney Siege
Channel 9's 60 Minutes special on the survivors of the Sydney Siege was distressing but necessary. Difficult as it would have been for the survivors to recount every moment of that nightmare, they did it with maturity, insight and fortitude. The documentary did justice to their harrowing tale. Their warmth, intelligence and courage shone through. Their bravery in the face of danger, their compassion for one another and their ability to remain composed under pressure struck me as extraordinary. What was most heartening and powerful was the fact that they completely understood and empathised with each other's predicaments. Confronted with the sheer impossibility of knowing what would unfold as that horrific situation progressed, those who saw an opportunity to escape had no alternative but to grab it. It was an impossible situation. As one of the survivors who remained trapped till the very end of the siege said, it was impossible not to feel gratitude for the good fortune of th...