To recognise Domestic Family Awareness Month, Councillors and I attended the Candle Lighting Ceremony at Bowen Town Square last Wednesday as part of Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month.
The ceremony was an opportunity to remember those who have been impacted by domestic violence and to shine a light on the issue that affects so many in our community.
I was honoured to deliver a short speech urging the community to stand united in the belief that everyone has a right to feel safe and secure.
I expressed my gratitude to the local organisations and individuals who work tirelessly to combat domestic violence and provide support for survivors.
We should all try to engage and educate each other to create a community that supports respectful relationship practices, positive attitudes, and behaviours, and promotes a culture of non-violence.
I urge everyone in our community to make a clear stance that domestic violence will not be tolerated, not now, not ever!
Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month provides the profile to promote a clear message of no tolerance in our community with the goal of ensuring that those who are facing domestic violence can find strength from those around them to come forward and know they are not alone.
As a community, we must continue to speak out against domestic violence, educate ourselves, and support those who have been impacted.
These actions will help honour the memory of those lost and help to shine a light on a dark subject.
Whitsunday Regional Council has recently partnered with DV Safe Phone, an organisation with a vision to get a safe phone into the hands of every victim of domestic violence in need.
If you have an old mobile phone, you can donate it to be repurposed for a victim of domestic violence by dropping it in a donation box located at your local library.
For further information on the program, visit, dvsafephone.org.
Mayor Julie
