Walks in St Arnaud, Stawell aimed at preventing family violence

Published on 25 November 2024

Right: Northern Grampians Shire Council will again host Walks Against Family Violence in Stawell and St Arnaud in 2024 following successful events last year. Pictured is last year's walk in St Arnaud. 

For the next two weeks, Northern Grampians Shire residents will throw their support behind a global campaign aimed at preventing and eliminating violence against women and girls.

The council will host Walks Against Family Violence in St Arnaud and Stawell as part of the international 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign.

Mayor Karen Hyslop said the events provided a great opportunity to raise awareness of family violence and stand in solidarity with victim survivors.

“People of all ages and genders are welcome,” she said.

“Bring along your friends, family, colleagues – anyone you like. If you can, wear orange – the colour of the campaign – and bring along colourful signs and banners.

“These events focus on such an important topic; family violence does exist in our communities and we all need to play a role in stopping it.”

The St Arnaud event is on Thursday, November 28, at 10.30am. Participants will gather at Queen Mary Gardens and walk to the town hall for morning tea.

The Stawell event is on Thursday, December 5. Participants will gather at Stawell Library for a 10.30am start and walk to Stawell Neighbourhood House for morning tea.

“I’d like to thank our Family Violence Prevention Project Officer, Sandy Bevan, for her organisation of the events, along with her tireless efforts in this space,” Cr Hyslop said.

“Councils are uniquely placed in communities to play a key role in primary prevention, as a major employer and provider of community services.

“By taking a whole-of-council approach, we are looking to build primary prevention techniques in everything that we do.”

The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence starts today, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and runs until December 10, International Human Rights Day.

Lights at Stawell Town Hall and Big Hill will shine purple – the colour symbolising domestic violence – throughout the 16 days, and information posters featuring helpline phone numbers will be installed at public toilets in the shire.

Several council employees have trained to become Family Violence Contact Officers, providing information to colleagues and the community.

During the 16 Days of Activism campaign, organisations and individuals from around the world raise awareness that men’s violence against women is a fundamental violation of human rights.

Cr Hyslop said the United Nations defined violence against women as ‘any act of gender-based violence that causes or could cause physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of harm or coercion, in public or in private life’.

"Tragically, one woman is killed every nine days at the hands of a former or current partner," she said.

“Statistics from Our Watch show one in four women, 27 per cent, has experienced violence, emotional abuse or economic abuse by a cohabitating partner since the age of 15.

"In Australia, intimate partner violence contributes to more death, disability and illness in women aged 25 to 44 than any other preventable risk factor.

“The statistics are shocking and they go on and on. But it is preventable.”

The national framework guiding the primary prevention of violence against women, Change the Story, focuses on gendered drivers that international evidence shows to be the most consistent predictors of violence against women – sexism, harmful gender stereotypes and disrespect.

“Education of people of all ages and primary prevention activities are key,” Cr Hyslop said.

“We need the whole community to play a role in helping create a future where we are all safe, equal and respected.

“If you haven’t been to a Walk Against Family Violence before, come along to the St Arnaud or Stawell events and see how you can help.”

• If you or someone you know is experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, domestic, family or sexual violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732, chat online via www.1800RESPECT.org.au, or text 0458 737 732. Men’s Referral Service: 1300 766 491. In an emergency, call triple zero.