Bondi Beach resident Jono Lewis summed it up perfectly when he said "sadness came to paradise today".

The keen surfer was 150m away on Sunday evening when the mass shooting took place in which 15 people were killed by two gunmen with 42 others hospitalised after the cowardly attack at a Jewish festival. He ended up with about 60 strangers at his mates place nearby - all sheltering in one place and helping each other throught the distressing minutes.

Lewis told The Bugle that this senseless violence had broken the collective heart of the local community as well as the nation.

"Sadness came to paradise today. It came calm, well dressed and armed. It shook the community and it took something from everyone here, more from some than others," he said.

"This is not how we do things. This is not our resolve. To target the innocent for actions of insanity elsewhere is weak. Find the goodness in each other - the hearts have to speak.

"I cry for all, the sides are not real. It is senseless and truly unbelievable. But senselessness approached with violence will do nothing to help.

"We all know it will only destroy."

He said that it was up to the community to set an example for everyone else to follow.

"Don't we want our children, family and friends to grow up with a continuity of joy?" he asked.

"I put it to everyone from every place - spirituality, faith, belief - are among the most important things. But you cannot take innocent people for things that politicians bring.

"We will not accept this on our beautiful land. I implore those of all race, colors, creed, religions, spirit, sports teams - we the people demand!

"There is only the worst to happen if we walk down this path again - this is not new, nor unknown.

"To repeat the same, time and time again, is the definition of insanity; the pattern is old, already been sewn.

"I say to those on all corners, this from our centre, our life, the energy above - please stop this senseless violence - know that a life worth living, it only comes from love.

"Our collective heart is broken today. Let us use it to bring unity - no more of this decay."