Dear Hope Street family. After a week of terrible news, we offer our condolences to the family and friends of the late Jill Meagher. In addition, we would like to express our ongoing love, respect and solidarity with all the residents and businesses of both Hope Street and of Brunswick in general.

As a strong community, we can survive this and while both this suburb and the world are poorer for the loss of Ms Meagher, we can only hope that the horrific events of the past week bring us closer together. Despite some of the characterisations made in the media, we continue strongly to believe that this part of town embodies everything a diverse, creative, tolerant and safe community can be.

To everyone on the block – from the panelbeaters to the printers to the dressmakers to the musicians, artists and poets: We hope you are ok. This has hurt us all very deeply. Please look out for one another. Be safe. One love.

Bob, Tom and Tristan.