Photo Essay: Sydney’s Cronulla Beach One Year On

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Last year’s riots were caused by the snowball effect of a text message campaign to bring masses to the beaches where the action took place. This year, no successful campaign has surfaced.

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While many turned out on a brilliant Sydney weekend to catch some sun, surf and sand, there was a clear absence of ethnic faces. Many suggest that this contributed to the stability.

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The police presence at Cronulla was unprecedented, and the police were making little effort to hide. This was part of a campaign to create a sense of security and order for locals and visitors.

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By lunchtime, local news crews were converging on Cronulla for the all-important one-year-on story. This, combined with the presence of police, seemed to keep any tension at bay.

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Many local residents are still frustrated at what they perceive to be a media beat-up over the Cronulla debate. Most do, however, feel that life in their seaside town is getting back to normal.

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Santa Claus spontaneously appears and rallies the children present into a boisterous rendition of ‘Merry Christmas’. The kids, who seem all to willing to participate, play up for the cameras.

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The controversial Australia First Party brought its Cronulla candidate, John Moffat, to address any rally that formed, reported the Sydney Morning Herald. No such rally eventuated, and Moffat left.

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A mere handful of Australia First Party members spent a couple of hours on South Cronulla Beach handing out pamphlets which condemned ‘Asianisation’ and multiculturalism.

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Police weren’t discussing anything with media, saying they were under orders to keep quiet. Buggies like this one circled the beach, along with vans, riot squad vehicles and helicopters.

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The dog that became one of the most prominent focal points of the day, displaying two of a very small number of Australian flags present at Cronulla on the first anniversary.

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An Australian flag flies proudly near the surf club on Cronulla Beach. Most other flags present were on beach towels. A handful wore anti-ethnic t-shirts to the beach in quiet protest.

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Police eyes scoured the beach for hours for any sign of trouble. Most members of the public simply ignored the police presence and got on with enjoying the summer weather.

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The day’s only confrontation occurred in front of a small handful of media, between Australia First Party leader Jim Saleam and his critic, Mat Henderson-Hau, of the Fight Dem Back campaign.

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Cronulla’s business sector is struggling to recover after the effects of last year’s riots and the social and political effects the riots had on the town, especially through media eyes.

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Police on one of many routine ground patrols of South Cronulla Beach, as beachgoers look on.

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With police having an eye on the beach, an atmosphere of safety was maintained consistently.

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Alcohol was a major contributing factor to last year’s riots. Signs just up the road from Cronulla Beach indicate that ‘big brother’ is watching the actions of those who enter the area.

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Police patrolled the local train station and boarded the train back to the city on patrol.

ALL PHOTOS © JEHAN CASINADER