When asked about her heroic actions during the Bondi Junction massacre two years ago, Catherine Ann Molihan modestly says she “did what any nurse would do”.
Ms Molihan recalls hearing screams and panicked footsteps behind her as she sat in a cafe in Bondi Junction Westfield on Saturday April 13, 2024, about 3.30pm.
During Joel Cauchi’s hunting knife rampage, which claimed six lives, Ms Molihan was barricaded inside a nearby shop with six other people until she saw two men outside in need of medical aid.
“I could see two men, one sitting and one on the ground,” Ms Molihan, a veteran nurse with more than 25 years’ experience, said.
“I asked the shopkeeper to please open the door, he said, ‘No, I won’t let you back in.’ I told him ‘I don’t care, let me out so I can help those men.’”
Ms Molihan instructed the first man to apply pressure to his wounds using a T-shirt before turning her attention to the second man, who had sustained critical injuries.
“We dragged the second man by his feet from beneath whatever he was under,” she said.
“He was bleeding, I held his head and talked to him – comforting things you would say to someone who is critically unwell.
“I don’t know how long it was until the ambulance arrived and took over.”
Ms Molihan is one of eight people, including two who have died, being recognised with bravery decorations by the Governor-General for their acts of “valour, compassion and service” on the day of the massacre.
The recipients include Detective Inspector Amy Louise Scott, the officer who gunned down Cauchi, security officers Muhammad Taha and the late Faraz Tahir; Silas Despréaux, Damien Jean Guerot and Ashlee Good, who died protecting her infant daughter.
Commendations for brave conduct have been awarded to Ms Molihan and Noel McLaughlin, who lost his wife Jade Young in the attack.
While she is “humbled” by the gesture, Ms Molihan said the award is “shrouded in overwhelming sadness”.
“It just means that I’ve been congratulated for the work I do as a nurse,” she said.
“There are thousands of people that do it everyday.
“The commendation doesn’t mean all that much to me to be quite honest.
“It brings up the sadness of what happened to those innocent people that day … I’m trying to put it behind me.”
The recognition also brings up complex emotions for Mr McLaughlin, who remembers confronting Cauchi as the killer stood just a metre away holding a blade toward him.
“I don’t even know how I would categorise the feeling I have towards (the commendation),” Mr McLaughlin said.
“I guess I’m thankful.
“When I confronted him, I realised he had a knife and I didn’t have anything to counter him with.
“I just said, ‘What are you doing?’ and then I put two and two together that he’d stabbed Jade.
“I’m really thankful with how everyone stepped up and supported us post-event, it has changed the course of our lives.”
Security officers Muhammad Taha and Faraz Tahir also confronted the killer in a bid to save others, both were stabbed in the stomach by Cauchi.
Mr Taha is dedicating his bravery medal to his colleague, Mr Tahir who died of his wounds, and to everyone else who stood against Cauchi on that day.
“The pain and the suffering that I faced that day probably changed my life,” Mr Taha said.
“We came face-to-face with the attacker. That few seconds of confronting the attacker was a really difficult job, we did the best job we could do to save people.
“I am deeply honoured to receive this award.
“If I had to face that moment again I would make the same choice because in life there is something bigger than fear.
“I will definitely try to help the community in future as well if I am ever given the chance.”
Mr Tahir’s older brother Muzafar Ahmad said after the passing of their parents, Faraz had been like a son to him.
“I am really proud of Faraz for his bravery,” Mr Ahmad said.
“He was a brave man, he was like that in childhood. He stood up to Joel Cauchi.”
In addition to Ms Young, Ms Good and Mr Tahir; Dawn Singleton, Yixuan Cheng and Pikria Darchia were killed in the attack.
During the inquest into their murders it was heard that Cauchi, who had severe schizophrenia was experiencing an acute episode of psychosis at the time of the stabbings.
