Another day, another report that a woman has been killed by a man somewhere across Australia.

The past month or so the issue of violence against women has never been more prevalent.

Just down the road at Ballarat, hundreds of people turned out to a rally against men’s violence on the city’s streets on April 12.

The snap rally was organised after three women in the Ballarat area were killed, either by former partners or a stranger.

Rebecca Young, Samantha Murphy and Hannah McGuire all died in the most heart-breaking of circumstances, and the effect on the community has been enormous.

The women of Ballarat, and their families and supporters, were protesting against the unprecedented violence that had occurred in Ballarat, and presented a united voice that violence against women must stop.

On Monday, police charged a man with murder after a 28-year-old woman’s body was found at a home in Forbes, New South Wales.

This is all on the back of the stabbings at Bondi Junction, where it has emerged that most of the victims were women.

The violence has been so great the Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commission is convening national crisis discussions.

A national roundtable will bring together people from across the country on May 7 to develop a cohesive, cross-sectoral approach to advancing the objectives of the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022-2032.

Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commissioner Micaela Cronin said the rates of women dying as a result of family violence – women who were murdered, missing, or dying as a result of suicide – in Australia was a crisis, and required urgent, national attention.

“Women are going missing and being murdered at horrendous rates in this country,” she said.

“Too many women are taking their own lives following their experiences of family violence. 

“We must all take urgent, targeted action to accelerate the objective of the National Plan – to end violence against women and children.”

The national crisis talks will take place in Canberra, with a statement of outcomes to be made public afterwards.

But with all the events to highlight the issue, when will we see change?

At a local level, a Shine the Light event will take place in Horsham on May 4.

The Wimmera Committee Against Family Violence invites the public to join them in grieving for those affected by family violence and sharing messages of hope. The community walk will set off from Ward Street at 6pm, heading along Firebrace Street before a presentation at Horsham Soundshell.

For more information on the event, see next week’s The Weekly Advertiser.

• Family and domestic violence helplines: 1800 Respect national helpline 1800 737 732; Women’s Crisis Line 1800 811 811; Men’s Referral Service 1300 766 491; Lifeline 24-hour crisis line 131 114; Vic Safe Steps crisis response 1800 015 188.

The entire April 24, 2024 edition of The Weekly Advertiser is available online. READ IT HERE!

The entire April, 24, 2024 edition of AgLife is available online. READ IT HERE!