. Source: NewsComAu

The morning of December 15, 2014 was similar to most years. Here at news.com.au, we were finalising plans for the coverage of the Second Test; we were putting the finishing touches on much of the Christmas content that would be rolled out over the next couple of weeks; and I myself was thinking about whether I’d publish this story at lunchtime that day, or the next morning.

Then, just before 10am, a black flag appeared in the window of a cafe in Martin Place and everything changed.

This terrible tragedy shook Australia to its core. Each and every one of knows that, due to the random nature of the attack, this could have happened to any of us.

It’s a scary thought.

For me, though, the enduring images of what’s now known as the Sydney Siege will not be of a madman who terrorised innocent Australians and committed cold-blooded murder. It won’t be of terrified hostages standing in windows, nor of the siege’s bloody end in the middle of the night.

Instead, I’ll remember an ever-growing floral tribute in the middle of Martin Place. I’ll remember a hashtag on Twitter that inspired a nation to avoid prejudice. I’ll remember brave citizens who risked their lives to save fellow hostages.

I’ll remember the faces of Tori Johnson and Katrina Dawson.

And I’ll remember how proud I am to be Australian.

THE TOP STORIES OF 2014 (most clicks)

1. SYDNEY SIEGE — December 15-16, 2014

The floral tribute at Martin Place has been growing each day. Picture: Toby Zerna Source: News Corp Australia

Australia is still trying to come to grips with the tragedy of the Sydney Siege. For 17 hours, gunman Man Haron Monis terrorised innocent civilians in the Lindt Cafe in Sydney’s Martin Place before the siege was brought to a shocking end. Monis and two hostages — Katrina Dawson and Tori Johnson — were killed as Australia watched on in horror. Stories of the bravery and selflessness of hostages and police alike continue to emerge as our nation mourns.

2. MH17 shot down — July 18, 2014

The world was shocked when a Malaysian Airlines plane was shot down in a field in eastern Ukraine in July. Picture: AP / Dmitry Lovetsky Source: Supplied

Thirty-eight Australian citizens and residents were among the 298 people who died when Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 was shot down over Ukraine. To this day, many questions remain — who fired the missile that shot down the jet? What compensation will the families of victims be able to access? Can Malaysia Airlines survive what was the second tragedy to strike the company inside six months?

3. MH370 disappearance — March 8, 2014

Relatives and friends of those on board MH370 are still waiting to see what happened to the plane which went missing in March. Picture: AP / Ng Han Guan Source: AP

It’s been nine months since Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 disappeared without a trace, carrying 239 passengers and crew. Contact with the plane was lost just an hour after it took off from Kuala Lumpur, with no distress signals made. It’s last thought to have been over the Indian Ocean, due to a combination of debris spotted by satellite and ultrasonic “pings” detected underwater. To this day, the search continues.

4. The tragic death of cricketer Phillip Hughes — November 27, 2014

There was an outpouring of grief over the death of cricketer Phillip Hughes late last month. Picture: Cameron Spencer / Getty Images Source: Getty Images

Cricket is our national sport. Children and adults alike, we play it in backyards, on beaches and barbecues. We gather around television screens and pack into stadiums to cheer on our national team and we love no contest more than the Ashes. That goes a long way to explaining why the sudden death of Phillip Hughes has had such an effect on Australians everywhere. Forever, the numbers 63 and 408 will see Aussies pause and remember a talented cricketer and a wonderful young man who was taken from us too soon.

5. The Bachelor: Blake and Sam split — October 3, 2014

Readers were hooked on the broken romance between Bachelor stars Blake and Sam ... especially when it was revealed he had dumped her for another contestant. Source: Supplied

For weeks, the second season of The Bachelor Australia was a novelty for many news.com.au readers. They enjoyed our recaps, they laughed at ridiculous moments like #dirtystreetpie and “he touched his eye”, and they tuned in when Blake got down on one knee and proposed to the supposed girl of his dreams, Sam. But it wasn’t until after the series finished that our readers REALLY got into the show, as Blake and Sam shocked the nation by confirming they’d split ... just hours before they were meant to do media interviews talking about their wonderful relationship. Good to see it didn’t take Blake too long to move on … with fellow contestant Louise.

6. G20 and the Russian warships heading to Australia — November 13, 2014

There was no shirt-fronting going on, but things remained tense between Tony Abbott and Vladimir Putin at the G20. Picture: AFP / William West Source: AFP

Brisbane came to a standstill — literally — when the world’s leaders flew into town for the G20 summit. But the world snapped to attention when it was revealed that a convoy of Russian warships was unexpectedly making its way towards Australia. An Australian government source labelled it “posturing, to show the power of the Russian fleet” as Australian naval ships HMAS Parramatta and HMAS Sturt were sent to “crash sail” to convoy. Diplomatically, Prime Minister Tony Abbott labelled it “freedom of navigation” … and no shirtfronts were mentioned. We think Vladimir Putin might have been disappointed by that!

7. Robin Williams dead at 63 — August 13, 2014

Readers were shocked and saddened to learn of the death of Robin Williams in August. Picture: AP / Reed Saxon. Source: AP

A multi-talented actor famed for his comedic genius, Williams won an Oscar for his work on Good Will Hunting, and also starred in hits Mrs. Doubtfire and Good Morning, Vietnam. He first rose to fame as a lovable alien Mork on hit sitcom Mork & Mindy. His death brought grief around the world, with musicians, journalists, actors and even US President Barack Obama remembering a man who inspired, and a man who made them laugh.

8. Australian terror raids — September 18, 2014

State and federal police raided homes in Brisbane and Sydney as part of an anti-terror operation. Picture: Chris McKeen Source: DailyTelegraph

“The regrettable reality is that to mount the kind of attacks which ISIL in Syria and in Iraq has in mind for Australia, all you need is a determined individual who will kill without compunction, a knife, an iPhone and a victim,” said Prime Minister Tony Abbott after anti-terror raids across Australia brought arrests, saw weapons seized and a plan to attack Parliament House uncovered.

9. Federal Budget 2014 — May 13, 2014

Treasurer Joe Hockey’s Budget was hugely unpopular, but it was still one of the biggest stories of the year. Source: News Corp Australia

It’s the Budget that continues to haunt Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Treasurer Joe Hockey — to the point that many of its key measures continue to be tweaked or rolled back. On Budget night, however, news.com.au readers just wanted to know what it meant for them ... and that’s what we delivered for each and every Australian.

10. My Kitchen Rules — April 30, 2014

They couldn’t cook, but David and Corinne were great entertainment on My Kitchen Rules. Source: Channel 7

If you’re going to be watching the Australian Open tennis in January, get ready for plenty of promos for the 2015 season of My Kitchen Rules. If it can replicate the success of the 2014 season, ratings success seems assured for Seven in 2015. While the finale was a highlight, there were plenty of other major moments — including allegations that ‘the Captain stole my wife’, and the behind the scenes moments that could only be revealed after the show aired.

11. The Block Glasshouse — October 13, 2014

Contestants on The Block were devastated by the shock auction results. Picture: Channel 9 Source: Supplied

The Block Glasshouse finale delivered joy and heartbreak for the show’s couples, with the most uneven result in the show’s history. Two teams left the Melbourne auctions with a measly $10,000 for their weeks of backbreaking work, while another took home just $40,000. In contrast, series winners Shannon and Simon Vos took home more than $400,000, while Chris and Jenna Susetio earned $310,000. Then the cameras turned off ... and the show got REALLY interesting!

12. James Packer and David Gyngell in wild street brawl — May 5, 2014

The pictures told the story ... but our favourite headline came from our friends at the NT News Source: News Corp Australia

This is the kind of story that makes newspaper editors the world over salivate ... two high-profile executives in a very public brawl just out the front of a $20 million beach pad in Bondi. At the centre of the blow-up? Supermodel Miranda Kerr. The now-legendary photographs inspired some of the most entertaining front pages of the year ... but our personal choice of the best goes to none other than the NT News for its corker: “Why I’ve got a Packer up my clacker”. Gold.

13. Hacker leaks nude photographs of Jennifer Lawrence and other stars — September 3, 2014

Jennifer Lawrence was one of the victims of a huge celebrity photo leak. Picture: Jason Merrit / Getty Source: Getty Images

A series of explicit photos appearing to show more than 100 female stars hit the internet in early September, showing Oscar-winning actor Jennifer Lawrence, among others in a number graphic naked poses. The pictures were allegedly retrieved due to an iCloud leak that allowed celebrities’ phones and computers to be hacked.

14. Melbourne Cup 2014: Admire Rakti, Araldo die in Cup tragedy — November 4, 2014

Skikato Kayoshi, strapper of the favourite Admire Rakti, is reduced to tears after the horse died shortly after the 2014 Melbourne Cup. Source: News Corp Australia

The race that stops a nation became the race that shocked a nation this year with the death of two contenders shortly after the runners passed the post. Favourite and Caulfield Cup winner, the Japanese stayer Admire Rakti, pulled up distressed and died of a heart attack, while Araldo was put down after breaking a leg when spooked by a fan waving a flag as he made his way back to scale. The tragic deaths prompted an investigation and new measures to restrict the size of flags that can be brought to a racecourse.