THIS year has seen a staggering 78 murders of women by their domestic partner or a male they knew very well and Eden residents have had enough.
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On Wednesday, November 25, Campbell Page held a community barbecue at Cocora Beach to raise awareness of and help stop domestic violence against women.
It was organised as part of the Bega Valley Shire’s White Ribbon Day celebrations, a uniquely Australian campaign to prevent male violence towards women.
Campbell Page’s Reconnect project officer, Amanda Sequeira said they believe that the issue doesn’t get enough publicity on the South Coast.
“We all work in the industry and we know that it is definitely a problem in our area,” Ms Sequeira said.
“And although the physical abuse is terrible it’s not just that, women are also experiencing verbal and emotional abuse and what’s worse is that the percentage of our youth that are exposed to it is quite high.”
Campbell Page arranged for members of the community, including John Liston, Peter and Pam Skelton and Dr Tom Henderson to stand together and take the oath against domestic violence.
“I swear to never commit, excuse or remain silent about violence against women,” they pledged.
Then guests united in a minute of silence to remember all the women who have been affected and suffered due to domestic violence before they released 20 white balloons into the air.
Ms Sequeira said it was unfortunate that her boss Maryanne Griffiths was unable to attend.
“This event was really all her idea. She has been personally touched by domestic violence so she thought it was important to what we can to stop it.”
Bega Valley Shire Council also held a White Ribbon Day public forum within their chambers yesterday.
The forum was hosted by group manager of council’s community, relations and leisure group, Anthony Basford who offered the room a statistical analysis of male on female violence in Australia and urged the community to stand up and make “widespread cultural change”.
