West Wimmera Shire Council is again participating in Respect Victoria’s Respect Women: Call It Out campaign.

The campaign runs from November 25 to December 10 and coincides with the United Nations’ 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.

The Respect Women: Call It Out campaign encourages Victorians to call out sexism, sexual harassment and disrespect towards women.

This campaign aims to support the Victorian community in understanding what respect means, what it looks like, and how to put it into practice in their everyday lives.

As part of the campaign, West Wimmera Shire leaders are encouraging residents to show their support in several ways. 

Community members will be able to listen to virtual guest speaker and domestic violence survivor Simone O’Brien talk about her journey.

A video of Simone’s talk will be available on the council’s website at www.westwimmera.vic.gov.au/Places-and-events/Supporting-the-prevention-of-family-violence. Council staff will place QR codes throughout the municipality, to allow people to easily access the video.

Chief executive David Leahy said people could also show their support for the campaign through shopping, with the council to supply reusable shopping bags featuring the Respect Victoria: Call It Out logo.

The bags will be given out to shoppers at Edenhope Foodworks, Kaniva IGA and Goroke IGA. The council also has several orange hats to give away, displaying the Respect Victoria logo. 

Residents can pick up a hat from the Kaniva or Edenhope shire offices and take a photo of them wearing it. Photos can be emailed to communications@westwimmera.vic.gov.au throughout the 16 days of the campaign and they will be posted on the council’s website and Facebook page.

Mr Leahy encouraged people to watch Mrs O’Brien’s video and get involved in the campaign.

“We are very fortunate to have Simone O’Brien as our virtual guest speaker this year,” he said.

“Simone suffered a horrific domestic violence attack in 2012. She now works tirelessly to raise awareness of domestic violence and give strength to victims to get out of violent relationships.”

Mr Leahy said the presentation was appropriate for school-aged children with parental supervision. He said family violence was an important issue in the region.

“It is vital that we all do our part to make our shire a safer place for everyone,” he said. 

“We need to work together to create change and I encourage everyone in the community to show their support.”

Wimmera Committee Against Family Violence will also host a virtual event for White Ribbon Day. The committee has called for residents to submit a photo or video representing the concept of ‘shining a light’ on family violence, which will be edited into a short video, launched on the group’s Facebook page on Friday.

The entire November 25, 2020 edition of The Weekly Advertiser is available online. READ IT HERE!

The entire November 25, 2020 edition of AgLife is available online. READ IT HERE!