IT was a solemn evening on Monday as locals gathered at Jellicoe Park to pay a minute’s silence to the victims of domestic violence.
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The No Violence Alliance committee led the memorial, which comprised of a candle vigil for the victims.
“We remember all those people involved in domestic violence,” NoVA committee member Denise Haines said. “It’s a time to reflect on the men, women and children killed.”
The NoVA committee was formed in 2012 in Moree due to service provider and community concern around the issue of domestic violence in Moree Plains Shire. NoVA is determined to reduce the number of domestic violence cases in the shire, through engaging the community and local organisations. One way of doing so, is raising awareness of the issue.
As Denise explained, domestic violence wears many hats.
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“Victims of domestic violence don’t just include those who have died as a direct result, but also those who have died from an illness because of the stress of living in domestic violence, or someone who commits suicide because they can’t take the abuse anymore. Domestic violence doesn’t also just happen between men and women, but also same sex couples. Anyone who is in a relationship.”
Guest speaker Moree Police Station officer-in-charge Inspector Martin Burke continued the thread and cited alarming statistics.
“Over three calendar years, 77 domestic homicides have occurred in NSW. Forty-seven of those victims were females, 30 were males.”
He said one of the biggest issues was identifying the silent sufferers.
“There are so many unwritten, unheard of stories. A lot of innocent parties are affected. Children can suffer in silence, and this affects their day-to-day lives. And it’s not as simple as talking about it. Many can find it hard to talk, and others don’t know how to talk about it. This can go on in their lives for days, months or even years.”
Staying Home Leaving Violence case manager Carol French’s moving poem highlights just how difficult it might be for someone in a domestic violence situation to talk about the issue.
“I got flowers today. It wasn’t my birthday, or any other special day. We had our first argument last night: he said cruel things to hurt me. But I know he’s sorry because he sent me flowers today.
“I got flowers today. It wasn’t our anniversary or a special day. Last night he choked me and threw me against the wall. I woke up the next morning with bruises on my body.
“If I leave him, what will I do? How will I take care of my kids? He must be sorry because he sent me flowers.
“I got flowers today. The day of my funeral. He killed me.”
According to Inspector Burke, there have already been three domestic homicides in NSW this year.
“One is too many. We should try to keep it at three this year, and next year work to keep the figure at zero,” he said.
