By Casey Neill
AFL great Kevin Sheedy says “working on common sense” and getting rid of aggression would help the community to tackle family violence.
He was a guest speaker at the fifth annual Walk Against Family Violence in Dandenong on Tuesday 21 November.
Family violence survivors were among the walkers who made their way from Dandenong Market to Harmony Square down Lonsdale Street in a united stand against the scourge.
Chalida, from Springvale, was one. She took part this year for the first time.
“I don’t want other women to go through what I went through,” she said.
She walked with friends and was thrilled with the turnout.
Chantelle, from Dandenong South, said the crowd showed how strongly the community felt about the issue.
“It’s about people standing up for something that shouldn’t be going on,” she said.
The With One Voice Choir welcomed the walkers into Harmony Square with an “uplifting” performance of Stand By Me and proud Wurundjeri woman Georgina Nicholson performed a welcome to country.
The choir sings:
Mayor Youhorn Chea said every voice could make a difference and everyone had a role to play in creating a violence-free community for all.
Mr Sheedy congratulated Greater Dandenong on leading in the area.
“When I grew up, I saw a lot of violence,” he said.
He said the message then was “turn a blind eye, pull down the blinds”.
The marchers make their point:
“When I look back it’s probably one of the most pathetic comments I’ve heard,” he said.
“Family violence happens when people are frustrated, annoyed, can’t handle some parts of their life so we’ve got to be there to help them through that.
“I think that time out, relaxing music, the ocean, gardening – they’re just some of the best refuges I have.
“I think it’s important that sports people as well as politicians and local leaders get up there and make sure that we understand that this is a whole Australian culture that we’ve got to get rid of.
“We do not need to lose one woman every week.
“They’re starting to get to wartime figures and this is ridiculous in a beautiful country like Australia.
“Australia has got to be better than that. It must be better than that.”
Mr Sheedy spoke about another AFL legend, Ron Barassi, intervening in an assault on a woman.
“That’s the sort of courage we have to hold if we want to build a country,” he said.
The message is clear and strong:
