SEVERAL hundred people marched through Hastings last Friday (22 November) to show their disgust of family violence.
The fifth Taking a Stand Against Family Violence march organised by Westernport Respectful Relationships Group was formerly known as the White Ribbon March.
The annual march raises community awareness about family violence and “helps the community to unite and take a stand together”, Cr Kate Roper said.
Speakers at the march included Cr Roper, Hastings Senior Sergeant Andrew Horscroft, family violence survivor Melissa, who shared her own story, and shire staff member Mandy Roche, who gave an overview of the shire’s Gender Equality Strategy.
“Violence against women and their children is a serious and widespread problem in Australia, with enormous individual and community impacts and social costs,” Cr Roper said.
“I urge anyone who doubts that to at the statistics. A shocking one in four women aged over 15 has experienced physical or sexual violence by an intimate partner.
“Here on the Mornington Peninsula, police reported 1867 incidents of family violence in 2017-18.
“But analysis has shown that only 25 per cent of referrals to family violence services in the southern metro region come from police; we can infer that many, many more incidents of family violence occur than are recorded in police statistics.”
Cr Roper said the shire had been reviewing its policies and “looking at what it can do to improve the situation”.
“We have an obligation to do this under state legislation: preventing violence and injury is one of the priority areas in the Victorian public health and wellbeing plan.
“It was also a recommendation of the Family Violence Royal Commission that local governments report on the measures they propose to take to reduce family violence and respond to the needs of victims.
“We know that one of the key drivers of violence against women and their children is gender inequality – which is the process by which people are treated differently and disadvantageously, under similar circumstances, on the basis of their gender.
“We also know that there is much work that we can do to help change the attitudes and ways of thinking that enable family violence to take place. This can include challenging the condoning of violence against women; promoting women’s independence and decision-making; challenging gender stereotypes and roles, and strengthening positive, equal and respectful relationships.”
The Westernport Respectful Relationships Committee includes Good Shepherd, DHHS, Victoria Police, Family Life, Hastings Community House, Westernport Chamber of Commerce and shire staff.
The Westernport Respectful Relationships Committee is auspiced by Wallaroo Community House.
After the march guests were invited to take part in the creation of rock art with the Balee Aboriginal Group.
First published in the Western Port Times – 27 November 2019
