‘’If you see something, do something about it,’’ she said. ‘’As a serving police officer I thought I was safe but I found out the hard way that it can happen to anyone.’’

Shelly Walsh’s father John is serving a life sentence for the murders of his wife Jean and grandchildren Kevin, 7 and Jaime, at his Cowra home on June 30, 2008.

‘’I didn’t see it coming as it wasn’t the stereotypical cycle of violence – but looking back there was a pattern of emotional abuse and control,’’ Ms Walsh said.

Her words moved the 500-strong crowd gathered at Stuart Park after an early morning march to protest violence against women.

Community members, emergency service staff and students were among those who stood in silence as 58 drum beats marked the number of women allegedly killed by men in Australia this year.

Lake Illawarra Police Commander Superintendent Wayne Starling told the crowd that last year 95 women died at the hands of their partner or former partner. 

Supt Starling said in NSW almost 80 women per day were victims of assault; while some 25,000 AVOs were issued in the state’s courts annually.

‘’White Ribbon Day is the world’s largest movement of men and boys working to end men’s violence against women and girls,’’ he said.

‘’It is also about creating a vision of masculinity where women can live in safety, free of violence and abuse. It is also an opportunity for women to be empowered and speak out against violence. Not only the physical abuse but the emotional abuse.’’

It’s the second annual walk organised by the Illawarra Committee Against Domestic Violence.

‘’A lot of work has been done over the last 12 to 18 months to put the issue of domestic violence at the front of people’s consciousness,’’ committee member Maris Depers said.

‘’For too long the issue hasn’t been discussed at a community level but now we’re looking at how we can take steps to change this.’’