Marchers shout no to domestic violence in Murray Bridge
Around 60 locals have gathered at Sturt Reserve for 2024’s version of an annual awareness-raising event.
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Dozens of locals have shouted no to domestic violence and coercive control at an awareness-raising event in Murray Bridge.
About 60 people gathered at the Place of Courage, a memorial to victims and survivors of domestic violence, at Sturt Reserve on Friday.
It was enough to make for a decent crowd – and, chillingly, it was about the same as the number of women who have died as a result of domestic violence in Australia this year.
Tim Law, one of the event’s organisers, said 66 women had died so far in 2024.
That was already two more than in 2023.
“Family and domestic abuse needs to be talked about,” he said.
“We need to talk about what it looks like and how we can end it.
“Changing the behaviours of perpetrators will take a whole-of-community effort.”
Guest speaker Kai Martin noted that domestic abuse could take many forms besides physical violence.
It could be:
- Emotional
- Financial
- Sexual
- Social
- Verbal
- Spiritual
“Intimidating behaviours, isolating someone from their family or friends or work, controlling who they see, controlling their money, controlling what they wear or where they go, humiliating someone privately or publicly, using words as weapons … these behaviours are what lead to the physical act (of violence), but by then it’s too late – the damage has been done,” he said.
“We need to be able to recognise the signs and stop it at a young age.
“I want my children to grow up in a world free of domestic violence.
“I don’t want them to fear, be scared or hurt by someone who is meant to love them.”
T-shirts and signs created by high school students hang or stand on display at the event. Photos: Peri Strathearn.
While both women and men are victims of domestic violence, women make up around 90 per cent of domestic homicide victims, according to the Australian Institute of Criminology.
- Get help: Visit the Haven at Murray Bridge Community Centre between 9am and 4pm on weekdays, or the DVINA Centre at 1 Standen Street, Murray Bridge; call the Domestic Violence Crisis Line on 1800 737 732, or Murray Mallee Adelaide Hills Domestic Violence Service on 8228 8960; or, in an emergency, dial 000.
