"You are welcome here. We are sorry. May you be safe in our community," a card left outside Orange's Peisley Street mosque reads.
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Sitting at the front of a string of flowers and notes that line part of the church's access way, the words epitomise what many of us are feeling.
The sentiment was obvious in Orange on the weekend in the wake of the chilling terrorist attack on our neighbours in New Zealand, on innocent civilians practising their right to freedom of religion.
The flowers and words were a show of support, and of solidarity.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Labor leader Bill Shorten urged Australians to stand up to hatred and intolerance as the region grappled with its worst mass-murder in modern history.
Ashamedly, the alleged attacker was a 28-year-old right-wing extremist from Grafton called Brenton Tarrant. Just across the Tasman Sea in a country that we consider our close ally, a horrific attack was perpetrated by a man who was identified as Australian.
It is this sentiment of inclusion that we can't forget in the weeks, months and years that follow this devastating event.
But Mr Shorten echoed what has run through the minds of many Australians - this was not an Australian who represents Australia.
"This is not who we are - but that is why solidarity is so important."
Australians must insist on a respectful community, now more than ever. We can't be divided by extremists, not in our community and particularly not in federal politics - a place that is supposed to represent the views of a nation.
We are a proud multicultural nation, and we need to stand in unity with each other and our neighbours.
It is often in times of intense pain and suffering that people from all walks of life band together. It has been seen in New Zealand, in Australia and it has been seen across the world that this is one of those times - flags have flown at half-mast, a minute's silence recognised.
As poignant and fitting as the quoted card's words were, we might humbly suggest one small amendment: "You are welcome here. We are sorry. May you be safe in your community".
It is this sentiment of inclusion that we can't forget in the weeks, months and years that follow this devastating event.
It's the only sentiment that has even a chance of ensuring we never see something so tragic and heart-breaking occur again.
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