Away from home and you hear the worst is happening. An unknown number of people are being held hostage and even though you know – you think – your children are safe in their jobs which are nowhere near Martin Place, your blood freezes.

And you wonder who else is held up in the siege, who else you know? Will everyone be OK? After all, it's just a few kilometres from where you work. Was someone visiting there that day?

Within hours of the siege beginning, my brother (bless you, little one) has texted me to say that he has made contact with all of the kids, they are all safe. One works in a public institution; and the only disruption was some kids on a school excursion who had to stay put.

Please let us all acknowledge both of the victims of the Sydney siege: Katrina Dawson, lawyer, wife, mother of three, whose family have now established a foundation in her name to honour both her achievements and focus on the education of women (former governor-general Quentin Bryce will be its founding member); and Tori Johnson, whose family have asked all donations to be directed towards beyondblue, which supports Australians with anxiety and depression.

But here, over the other side of the world, we wondered whether terrorism had really arrived in Australia. What could we know that was true?