Jenny McGuirk was a counsellor on the streets of Melbourne following the Bourke Street massacre in January, an event with eerie similarities to today’s London terror attacks. 

Four people are now confirmed dead and another 40 injured after an attacker mowed down pedestrians in the English capital.  

Speaking before proceedings at the All Seasons Conservatory began, Ms McGuirk urged the community to answer violence with goodness, not hate or fear. 

“The love of thousands of people can be activated in those very difficult circumstances,” she said.  

Ms McGuirk said once people experienced others’ generosity, they “understood what community is all about”. 

There were 180 attendees at the Thursday night dinner, including members of Bendigo’s Christian, Muslim and Jewish faiths.

Victoria Police senior sergeant Craig Gaffee was also present and said there was a heightened sense of security in the state when terror struck overseas.

“We work with all people in the community,” he said when asked why he joined in the interfaith initiative. 

Emcee Margot Spalding, who pioneered the Believe in Bendigo campaign, said the night was “all about inclusion and diversity”.