Echuca walks for change

Guest speakers spoke beneath the pavilion at Hopwood Gardens from 10am, with Aunty Denise Morgan-Bulled delivering a Welcome to Country.

“I'm so glad that we've got a lovely day to be here and recognise what this event is,” she said to the crowd.

“Like every person, we have our family, and our family needs to be strong, stable and loving, especially for our children who need that from us.”

Centre for Non-Violence Echuca and Orange Door acting team leader Sharon Shaw said it was a privilege to stand in solidarity with attendees.

Last financial year, over 2000 clients across the six local governments where the centre operates sought assistance from it.

Ms Shaw said those numbers had continued to rise this year, with an increase in reported family violence incidents, including a 50 per cent increase in women experiencing 10 or more lethality indicators.

“At CNV, we are working harder than ever before to navigate often complex situations that are increased by rising cost of living and housing,” she said.

“We continue to call for equality, to call for respect, because right now, we simply do not have it.”

The community was urged to help end family violence locally by calling out sexist attitudes, and reflecting on outdated beliefs individuals may hold about gender.

While cultural action was encouraged, Ms Shaw also called for increased and ongoing funding from the state and federal governments for front-line services.

Social worker and psychotherapist Tracey Farrell discussed the way child victim-survivors of family violence could react, and every adult’s responsibility to promote recovery.

What can manifest as ‘bad’, overly obedient, or emotionally distant behaviour may actually be a response to family violence, which Ms Farrell encouraged attendees to recognise.

“None of these responses means something is wrong with the child ― they mean something happened to the child,” she said.

“What children need most is for adults, parents, caregivers, teachers, educators, community members, to see their behaviour as communication, not feed their condemnation.

“Every safe adult becomes part of a child's recovery story.”

Campaspe Shire Cr Paul Jarman highlighted concerning national and global family violence statistics, but reiterated how the problem occurred locally.

He urged community members to support those who were vulnerable, and to challenge the beliefs that perpetuated violence against women.

“This is not an issue that is somewhere else,” he said.

“This is an issue that's in our community, and we need to take responsibility in the actions we do, to minimise it and to get rid of it.”

The walk was held by council in partnership with Echuca Regional Health, CNV and Safe + Equal.

Attendees walked from the garden to Echuca library, where morning tea was organised and resources were available.