Reclaim the Night Illawarra will be held on October 25 at 6pm. The march starts on the grass near the IPAC Centre on Burelli Street and goes up to the amphitheatre in Crown Street Mall for the event.
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From the age of 15 one of three women in Australia will experience abuse.
We may not be aware of what has happened or is happening but we are all likely to know someone who has or is experiencing it.
Many suffer in silence but the community is becoming more aware of shocking statistics such as in the 12 months to June 2017 there were 939 instances of domestic violence reported to police in the Illawarra.
That is an average of more than 2.5 a day. But many more instances go unreported.
As awareness grows so does the number of people who want to try and do something to help stop that happening.
Which is why hundreds are expected to take to the street in Wollongong this Thursday night to take a stand against gender based violence and sexual harassment.
Unfortunately many experiencing it will not be in a position where they can attend.
But they will be able to take heart from large numbers in the community turning out and marching through the streets to raise awareness.
It will also help stop the growing problem in our community from being hidden.
That is why organisers Janine McEvoy, of Relationships Australia, and Lynelle Samways, of Wollongong Women’s Information Service, are so passionate about giving the community a chance to speak out.
Thursday evening will be the fourth Reclaim the Night in the city centre in recent years.
Prior to that the last march was in 2008. That is what prompted the two women to decide it was important to organise a women’s led event again in Wollongong.
Thursday is a family event that will involve a march from Burelli Street up into Crown Street Mall starting just after 6pm.
People are encouraged to wear a purple shirt and start gathering at Civic Plaza from 5.30pm.
The aim is to try and stop violence against women with a message that safety and equality go hand in hand.
The night will feature a candle lighting ceremony immediately after the march to commemorate lives lost and then speakers and entertainment will continue until 7.30pm. Those in purple are then invited to stay and enjoy Eat Street.
Rain last year kept numbers down but Ms McEvoy is expecting a record turnout this Thursday when counselors will also be present for anyone who feels like talking to someone.
“The first year was actually the biggest year because it was the only year where we haven’t had rain. The last two years have been really terrible weather. The last one even the markets were shut down in Eat Street that night,” Ms McEvoy said.
But one year Wollongong did have more people turn out than Melbourne for Reclaim the Night.
“We are really anticipating it is going to be bigger than ever this year. We are hoping for a massive response. That is important because when we are looking at stages of change the first stage is awareness. That is what we are about. We want to really raise awareness. Violence thrives on secrecy. So we are taking the lid off it. We are talking loudly about it. And we are engaging the community.”
Violence thrives on secrecy. So we are taking the lid off it. We are talking loudly about it. And we are engaging the community
- Janine McElvoy
The Flagstaff Hill lighthouse will turn purple on Thursday night as a beacon of awareness.
“A couple of years ago we (Reclaim the Night) got 12,000 signatures from the community here and took it to parliament. Sharon Bird tabled it for us two years ago,” Ms McEvoy said.
“We go out there at the market and all over the place having conversations with people around it. So we are proactive all year round.”
It is important because at a time when many crimes are decreasing domestic violence is not.
“Seven women died within an eight day period in Australia only a couple of weeks ago,” Ms McEvoy said.
“When I last checked this week 55 people had lost their life either by a current or former partner this year”.
Which means one or two women die this way in Australia every week.
“When we light candles to commemorate the lives lost it is very moving and very powerful,” Ms McEvoy said.
The message this Thursday is violence against women is not acceptable and that everyone has the right to live free from fear, harassment and violence.
Reclaim the Night in Wollongong will start and finish with a performance from the Out of the Blue Singers.
“The event is growing. More people want to be involved, more services want to be involved and more entertainers want to be involved.”
2018 marks the 40th year of Reclaim the Night as an international event.
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