Dawson family make emotional shrine visit

"I love you mum, love Sasha".

It's the most heart-wrenching note that lies among the thousands of bouquets and tributes that cover Sydney's Martin Place.

As the family of slain siege hostage Katrina Dawson made an emotional visit to a makeshift shrine in the CBD on Thursday morning, one of their longest pauses came as they noticed a colourful drawing and note.

The two men and two women were visibly upset as they read cards to honour their lost relative, embracing each other and clutching their chests.

Ms Dawson, 38, a barrister and mother-of-three, was one of two hostages who died after a 16-and-a-half hour siege near her Sydney office.

Her three children are aged under 10, with Sasha set to start school next year at Ascham School in Sydney's east.

The drawing that lies in the sea of flowers, is in the typical style of a young hand. It depicts two figures with yellow-blonde hair, one tall and all pink, the other in a blue dress, with brown arms and pink legs.

Ms Dawson's other daughter, Chloe, is already at Ascham, while her son Oliver has just completed kindergarten at Cranbrook School.

Her husband Paul Smith, is a partner at top tier law firm King & Wood Mallesons.

In a statement, the Dawson and Smith families said on Tuesday: "She was an amazing woman and the most loving and loved wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt, in-law and blessed with a wonderful circle of friends and colleagues."