- Music
- 22 Dec 14
Brendan Graham's classic is played to honour the late Tori Johnson and Katrina Dawson.
'You Raise Me Up', written by Irishman Brendan Graham and Rolf Lovland, played a key part in an emotional tribute, which took place in Sydney over the weekend, to Tori Johnson and Katrina Dawson, who were killed in a 16 hour siege at the city's Martin Place last week.
In a scene that inspired mass coverage all over the world, customers and staff at the Lindt Cafe had been taken hostage by Man Haron Monis – a self-styled Muslim cleric and radical, who was known to have psychiatric issues. When police stormed the building, gunfire broke out, and Tori and Katrine became innocent victims. The perpetrator, Man Haron Monis, was also killed and four other people were injured.
The tribute took place at the beginning of Australia’s largest free, family Christmas event, Carols In The Domain, which is held annually in the Sydney Botanic Gardens. The evening was opened with a rendition of ‘You Raise Me Up’ from the Australian tenor, Mark Vincent, a hugely popular gold-album selling artist in Australia. Other performers on the night included Georgie Parker, Nathaniel Willemse, The McClymonts, Lee Kernaghan, Adam Garcia, The Wiggles and Judith Durham. “It is incredibly moving to hear the song used in this way, in tribute to Katrine Dawson and Tori Johnson, the two young Australians killed in the Sydney siege,” songwriter Brendan Graham told Hot Press.
Staff members from Lindt Cafe were in the audience, alongside a group of the NSW Police Tactical Response Unit, who had risked their lives in the siege.
The event was also attended by the Australian Premier, Mike Baird. Over 100,000 people packed into the Botanic Gardens for what was an emotional occasion.