After visiting the cafe at 9.30am, Mr Baird said he told Mr Herat that the city was proud of him. Lindt siege survivor Joel Herat at work on Friday. Credit:Nick Moir "I said to him that the city was very proud of ... him being able to be very strong despite what he went through." He said it was an "incredibly important day for Sydney" and for the state. Linda Gunning, 66, and her daughter Elizabeth, 39, came from Dural to be among the first customers back to the marble-lined cafe.

Mrs Gunning's son works across the road at the Reserve Bank of Australia and knew Katrina Dawson, the barrister killed when police stormed the cafe at 2am on December 16. NSW Premier Mike Baird visits the Lindt cafe. Credit: James Brickwood "I think it's important to show, as Australians, we can all come together and still respect and remember what happened but also move forward together," Elizabeth said. "We don't need to change our lives for the small minority that try to make us." The finishing touches are put on the Lindt cafe in Martin Place as it prepares to reopen on Friday. Credit:Nick Moir

Mrs Gunning said it was her first trip to the cafe and she planned to have a hot chocolate and something to eat. Plaques for cafe manager Tori Johnson and Ms Dawson will be unveiled inside the store. During the siege in Martin Place last December. Credit:Steven Siewert Lindt chief executive Steve Loane said staff were consulted about possibly reopening the cafe and overwhelming supported the idea. "We feel that reopening the cafe to the public and moving forward positively is the right thing to do," Mr Loane said.

Joel Herat fleeing from the Lindt cafe during the siege. "After the tragic events that happened in December we discussed this reopening with our staff and have given a lot of thought to the next steps. Overwhelmingly, the feeling was that reopening and moving forward is the best thing to do for everyone affected." Man Mohan Monis with one of the hostages. Credit:Steven Siewert Of the 17 hostages held in the Lindt cafe by gunman Man Haron Monis, eight were staff members.

Mr Loane said cafe staff felt "positive" and were looking forward to the reopening. Loading He said they had been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from the public. "It has truly been a source of strength for everyone and has helped us in our decision to reopen the cafe and move forward," he said.