NSW Premier Mike Baird today invited the Sydney community to join in a twilight public ceremony to mark the first anniversary of the Martin Place siege. 

“This is an important opportunity to mark one year since the traumatic events of the Martin Place siege,” Mr Baird said.

“It will be an understated public ceremony to remember victims and survivors, and to recognise the response and resilience of a community that refused, and refuses yet, to be divided by those who wish to cause harm.”

The ceremony will begin at 8:15pm on Tuesday 15 December in Martin Place, between Phillip and Elizabeth Streets. Five nights of light projections onto the Lindt Café building will follow.

The light projections will incorporate images of the floral tribute laid at the Martin Place site, and will reflect on the thousands of notes and messages left  by the wider NSW community following the siege.

The families of Katrina Dawson and Tori Johnson, whose lives were lost in the siege, support the ceremony, light projections and musical interludes that are planned to commemorate the anniversary.

In addition to the families of Katrina and Tori, invited guests will include the hostages and others who were involved in the siege, as well as government officials.

“All members of the Sydney community are welcome to attend the ceremony in Martin Place, or come to view the light projections, which will continue for five nights from the anniversary,” Mr Baird said.

Public viewing areas of the ceremony will be between Phillip and Macquarie Streets, as well as Elizabeth and Castlereagh Streets in Martin Place.

Media interested in attending the event should contact media@dpc.nsw.gov.au to register.