Plea for By-Standers to Act

APPROXIMATELY 30 people gathered at the Scone Council building tonight to commemorate the passing of one woman each week at the hands of her partner.

Local frontline leaders in the fight against family violence urged people not to stay silent as victims or by-standers.

Stacey Gately from Upper Hunter Homeless, Lee Watts from Scone Neighbourhood Resource Centre and Joplin Higgins from Joplin Lawyers.

Lee Watts, manager of the Scone Neighbourhood Resource Centre, a local service which connects victims of family violence with support said the scope of violence in our community is ongoing.

“There are at least 20 cases in our local court relating to domestic violence each month and they are just the cases that go to court, it is the tip of the ice-berg and statistics show one in four families has family violence, I just don’t think people appreciate the scope of the violence, even in Scone,” said Mrs Watts.

“Victims hide in plan sight they do not always know there is support to leave their abuser,” she said.

“Domestic violence does not discriminate it can affect people from all backgrounds, lifestyles and circumstances, it is in every town, city and country,” she said.

“People need to know they are not alone, that there is support and we can help them find a solution, it’s important for people to help families get help and talk about the issues and we always need pantry items to help women leaving violence, so everyone in the community can help in many ways,” Lee Watts said.

Joplin Higgins, managing director of Joplin Lawyers, agreed that more people need to get involved to create change.

“The community need to be active by-standers on the issue of domestic violence, when they see something speak up, ask if someone is ok, if they notice something different in the workplace they talk it through with their colleagues,” said Ms Higgins.

“Most of hte time there is financial abuse, there is controlling and coercive behaviour, there’s a fear of children being taken from them and women feel they have nowhere to go,” she said.

“But we do have the Upper Hunter Homeless shelter and facilities to help people in this situation, but there is always the need for more places for women to go,” she said.

“What the community can do is support the Upper Hunter Homeless Centre, the Scone Neighbourhood Centre, donate food items to their pantries, donate blankets, microwaves and things you can’t readily take with you when you are leaving.

“Westpac is offering $2,000 to help victims of domestic violence get a bond, because often they need it urgently and Centrelink support can take a while to come through,” she said.

“There are resources, there is help available, so women need to feel supported in reaching out in speaking to friends and family, speak to a solicitor and developing an exit strategy, because it does take time and planning,” Joplin Higgins said.