By CASEY NEILL
A SEA of white ribbons bearing heartfelt messages spread across the lawn at Harmony Square on Tuesday.
It was the end point for City of Greater Dandenong’s third annual Walk Against Family Violence, which started at The Kitchen and made its way down Lonsdale Street on 24 November.
Walkers wrote messages ranging from, “I pledge to take a stand” to “I survived despite the lies” and planted their ribbon on a larger white ribbon.
Greater Dandenong Mayor Heang Tak said there were 2123 family violence incidents reported in the municipality last year.
“Statistics show that gender imbalance is a key factor in many instances of family violence,” he said.
“To live in a world where our families and communities are free and safe from violence, we must treat all individuals – women, men, girls and boys – with dignity, equality and respect.”
He said the hundreds of people gathered in the square, many wearing black T-shirts bearing White Ribbon slogans, was a sight he would not soon forget.
“Your presence is a heartening sign of how seriously our community takes the issue of family violence,” he said.
“You are showing the wider community that family violence and violence against women is completely unacceptable.”
Paroa from Dandenong North was close to tears as he explained to the Journal that family violence was an issue for Pacific communities.
“It’s been a part of the culture to the point where it’s acceptable,” he said.
“Too many people – especially kids – have died because of domestic violence.
“As I was growing up, it was acceptable to have one child in the family who loses their life over domestic violence.”
He said only recently people had started to speak out about it.
“It hurts that much speaking about it,” he said.
“I’ve had a few friends who’ve lost their lives to domestic violence. I stress the word ‘few’. Not just one.
“The important thing is the education that this march provides.”
Hannele, who calls Glen Waverley home but studies at Springvale Learning and Activities Centre (SLAC), marched with other students and teachers.
“I really support the idea of non-violence,” she said.
“This is a great way of expressing what we feel and what we support.”
Aunty Pat Ockwell said she and her 15 siblings were taught to respect and look after one another.
“And that’s what we’ve got to do today – look after one another,” she said.
Speakers Mimmie Watts and Rob Hulls donated their time to the event.
A new Victorian Multicultural Commissioner, Ms Watts said family violence affected every woman and every person.
“If it’s not you directly, it will be your sister, it will be your colleague, it may be your child, it may be your aunty,” she said.
“It is something that has come out of the closet now and has become a public issue.”
Ms Watts said it was still a hidden issue in some culturally and linguistically diverse communities, and was a huge problem for female refugees and asylum seekers.
She said they were generally isolated, without social networks or family to turn to, language barriers and dependence due to visas tying them to their abuser.
Ms Watts said they were also fearful of involving police and lawyers in case they faced deportation.
These issues added up to them staying in danger.
Mr Hulls, the former Victorian Attorney General from RMIT’s The Centre for Innovative Justice, said gendered violence had finally moved from the periphery to the core of the public imagination.
“With the curtain pulled back and the light shining in, we know what we need to do to make a difference,” he said.
“Until we turn the spotlight on those who have used family violence, victims will remain at risk.”
Mr Hulls said he hoped to one day refer to family violence as a scourge of the past, “before we stood together as a community and said, ‘no more family violence’”.
See video from the event here: