The community got a chance to help publicly raise awareness and try and stop domestic violence on Friday morning when close to 400 people walked from City Beach to North Beach for White Ribbon Day.
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At the completion of the walk they passed through more than 40 pairs of shoes in a moving tribute to all the women who have lost their lives to domestic violence in Australia during the last 12 months.
The number is down from more than 70 a year ago meaning White Ribbon Day and people's willingness in communities like Wollongong to turn out in great numbers to convey the important message is having an impact.
Illawarra Committee Against Domestic Violence hosts the White Ribbon Day Walk alternatively between Wollongong and Shellharbour every year and Shellharbour Mayor Marianne Saliba said this was the biggest turn out she had seen.
Cr Saliba said that was important because “according to White Ribbon Australia, one in three women have experienced physical and/or sexual violence perpetrated by someone known to them. Also, domestic and family violence is the primary cause of homelessness for women and their children”.
The walk started at 7am at Andrew Lysaght Park and proceeded along the foreshore and past the lighthouse and concludingt J P Galvin Park next to the North Wollongong Surf Club where ICADV committee chairperson Debbie Gaudie, acting Wollongong Lord Mayor David Brown, White Ribbon ambassador Greg Yee and a superintendent from NSW Police spoke.
All thanked so many children for turning out before school saying it was important to reach the youth as well as the community as a whole.
Cr Brown said supporting the annual White Ribbon Day Walk was about helping "change types of behaviour and attitudes which lead to men’s aggressive behaviour towards women".
Mrs Gaudie said the morning was about remembering those who have died as a result of domestic violence and taking a stand to try and stop more lives being lost to domestic violence.
“I really love the turnout we have had here today,” she said.
:It is absolutely fantastic especially the children.”
The event concluded with everyone saying a White Ribbon Day oath and those present being invited to sign a large banner.
All present were invited to keep taking steps 365 days a year to try and end domestic violence so the community is a safer place for everyone.
Talking about it with other people was identified as one way of doing that.