SWAN Hill’s CBD was a sea of orange on Friday when dozens of people walked to say no to family violence.
Swan Hill Mayor Les McPhee and Northern Victoria Domestic Violence Housing Group chair Arthur Graham led the contingent along Campbell Street to mark the start of 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence.
It’s a global initiative galvanising individuals, communities and organisations to address gender inequalities and eradicate violence against women and girls around the world.
Advocates against the scourge, which is rampant in the Swan Hill municipality, then gathered to hear from speakers about the initiative and the housing group’s efforts to raise $3 million to establish a safety shelter for family violence victim-survivors in the rural city. Currently there is only one safety house, with women and children sent to motels and caravan parks.
In Swan Hill, domestic violence incidents occur at a rate of 3.332 per 100,000 population, with the local government area ranked highest for this kind of violence out of 79 in Victoria.
The number of reported family violence incidents dropped in the past 12 months in the Swan Hill municipality, but remained above the state average.
In the 2021/22 financial year, there were 604 incidents (1.65 incidents per day), 75 fewer than 2020/21.
There was a spike in 2020/21, when incidents skyrocketed by 12.6 per cent, from 603 to 679.
Mr Graham said the scourge shouldn’t be in society.
“But it is, and we just need to do something about it – when we think of our region, the size of it and the lack of housing,” he said.
“It’s something I’ve been aware of in my work with Rotary for a long time and at least, with this emergency housing, we can get something started.”
Cr McPhee said it was disappointing that the municipality was overrepresented in family violence.
“The walk is an important message to be aware of family violence and know it’s not just about physical violence,” he said.
“It involves emotional and financial (violence) as well.
“In my previous profession as a police officer, I’ve been closer to family violence incidents and it’s all about protecting the survivors.
“First, reducing incidents and then protecting victims, who are predominantly women, but also children and men are involved in this as well.”
