In the days following the hostage crisis in Sydney, a large collection of flowers and notes has grown in Martin Place in Sydney’s centre for slain victims Tori Johnson and Katrina Dawson.

Tributes Cover Martin Place

Among the notes left at the makeshift shrine is one by Dawson’s daughter Sasha. Sasha drew a picture of herself with her late mother, writing simply, “I love you mum.” In addition to Sasha, Dawson is survived by her husband Paul and children Chloe and Oliver.

Another young relative of the deceased hostage victim named Freja also made a card, writing, “I am missing you already. I will never forget your lovely smile and your beautiful voice that floats in the wind. Once I heard about the accident I was very sad for the days on.”

Thomas Zinn, Johnson’s surviving partner, has also been to the moving site with Johnson’s parents. He believes that Johnson would love the sight and smell of flowers in the center of Sydney.

“It’s the most beautiful thing,” Zinn told Today. “Tori loves flowers and this is probably the most beautiful. I’m sure he can see it. I think it’s amazing that he has been able to make our city smell like flowers. I think there is no more beautiful thing that he could have imagined.”

While the people of Sydney are coming together to mourn those lost in the terrifying hostage situation carried out by Man Haron Monis – who was killed at the scene – the Australian government is looking into how it could have been prevented.

“This was an atrocity — it may well have been a preventable atrocity, and that’s why this swift and thorough review is so important,” Prime Minister Tony Abbott said. Just like about everyone else from the premier down, I was incredulous and exasperated at this. It was extraordinary [Monis] was on our streets.”