Geelong remembered those women and children who have lost their lives to family violence by lighting up landmarks across the city as part of Safe Steps’ Candlelight Vigil last night (Wednesday, May 3).
The Sexual Assault and Family Violence (SAFV) Centre and Meli (formerly Bethany Community Support and BCYF) illuminated sites such as Kardinia Park, Moorabool Street, Deakin University, Barwon Health and Victoria Police in purple, joining communities across Victoria in grieving the lost.
On average, a woman a week is killed in Australia at the hands of a current or former partner.
Greater Geelong has the second highest rate of intimate partner violence and family violence in the state, with incidences in the area increasing by eight per cent in 2022.
SAFV Centre chief executive Helen Bolton thanked the organisations that took part in the event.
“It was great to see the number of workplaces that did take up highlighting their buildings to mark the vigil,” Ms Bolton said.
“The buildings, the lights in Moorabool Street, it looked fantastic, and there was an increase in numbers throughout Geelong of those who did light up their buildings.
“The vigil last night was really about remembering those whose lives were taken and to acknowledge the trauma experienced by family members, communities and friends who have lost loved ones.”
Ms Bolton said the root causes of family violence, namely gender inequality and rigid gender stereotypes and roles, were difficult to shift but could be changed over time.
“We know that family violence is preventable, so it’s important for all of us to be informed and work together in our homes, our workplaces, schools, sporting clubs, social groups, anywhere, to address these main drivers of family violence and sexual assault,” she said.
“It’s so important to work with young people in schools and sporting groups around consent and respectful relationships, and we know that when we can work on those indicators that the long-term changes will start to reduce family and sexual violence in our community.
“That’s why an event like last night was so important; it brings to the forefront of our minds that family violence is still in our communities, it’s unacceptable, it’s really harmful but it is preventable and we can all do that by working together.”
