More than 50 members of the community braved chilly conditions to remember the 15 women who have this year lost their lives to domestic homicide.
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The candlelight vigil, held at the Forster Ocean Baths, was part of Domestic Violence Awareness month.
We wanted to bring our community together to put a local spotlight on domestic abuse and domestic homicide to acknowledge DFV Awareness month and show our heartfelt respect to the 15 women who have been killed this year so far by an intimate partner or family member, Great Lakes Womens Shelter manager, Carly Ravenscroft said.
"We hoped to have everyone walk away from the event with a little more awareness and knowledge about domestic abuse, and some red flags that they could be looking for in their relationships, and those of their loved ones, to keep at least one other person safe from an abusive relationship."
Guest speakers, Lou Webber from Women's Domestic Violence Court Advocacy Service, Lachy Gunn, Manning Great Lakes Police District domestic violence liaison officer and Melinda Lightfoot, Great Lakes shared their domestic violence experiences and expertise, along with domestic violence support worker, Nycolle Clayton, Worimi/Gumbaynggir Aboriginal elder, Lyn Davies, survivor, Kim Green and author, Steph Flower.
Steph wrote the books, The House with 18 Steps and The White Ribbon to help children understand domestic violence, what life was like living in a shelter and helping them to prepare to move onto the next home.
Carly extended grateful thanks go to the team of volunteers and to Kellie Howard, Work of Heart Fine Art Prints for taking the photos.