Sammy read out a letter from a young viewer who wanted to know what happened when said she saw a lot of people crying on the news, her mum then turned off the television, leaving the child feeling scared.

It wasn't just children who felt scared after the horrific news from Christchurch recently when 50 people were gunned down and killed as they went to weekly prayers.

Sammy explained "that a very bad person did a very bad thing" and although he didn't know why that person that thing, he thought it was because they were scared of people who look different and that made them angry.

"It's a bit like being scared of the dark, it's only scary because you don't know what's there," Sammy said.

"You just have to be brave, reach out and turn on the light."

I was thinking of Sammy's advice as I attended the beautiful memorial service in Mount Isa for the victims of Christchurch on Friday at Good Shepherd College, organised by Fr Mick Lowcock.

They put out five Muslim prayer mats on the stage to represent the 50 victims and next to them they put five lit candles, because as Fr Mick explained "in the darkness there is always light".

It was a beautiful and simple service with Muslim prayers, Christian hymns and word and thoughts of support for our own Muslim and Polynesian communities, both of which were so deeply affected by the tragedy in New Zealand.

It was clear from watching all of the 200 or so people there, that Mount Isa needed that coming together and showing our bonds of community were stronger that what divides us.

It also shows that as humans we share the same feelings, the need for love, compassion, friendship, forgiveness and understanding.

We should remember that the next time an opportunistic politician tries to paint some people as "different" or "unwelcome". It is they, the politicians who preach this message of hate, who are the problem, not the people themselves.

We must remember to turn on the light - Derek Barry