COUNCILLORS, council staff and members of the public gathered in Leongatha to commemorate those lost to family violence, the vigil moved indoors due to wet weather.
South Gippsland Shire Mayor John Schelling thanked all those who attended, commenting that “It saddens me we are gathered under such tragic circumstances.”
He stressed that the gathering offers a chance to remember those who have lost their lives to family violence and stand in solidarity with those who have been impacted.
Describing family violence as “a national crisis”, Cr Schelling proceeded to highlight the sharp rise in the Gippsland region.
“In 2024, family violence in Gippsland rose by an average of 16.4 per cent; alarmingly, 3466 Gippslanders sought homelessness services as a direct result of family violence,” he said.
The Mayor kept the focus on those impacted by family violence, stressing that while he could say much more about the perpetrators of it, it is not the time or place to do so.
After sharing the stories of a couple of those whose lives were ended by family violence, Cr Schelling urged everyone to play their part in improving the situation.
“I want to emphasise that preventing family violence is a responsibility we all share,” he said, adding it can affect anyone regardless of age, background or gender and comes in many forms, some of which are not immediately visible.
“Our greatest hope lies in awareness,” Cr Schelling noted, concluding “We can do better, and we must.”
Support service contact details:
Orange Door: phone 1800 319 354 (Leongatha office) or visit vic.gov.au/about-the-orange-door for other locations and details.
1800 Respect (1800 737 732)
Safe Steps Family Violence Response Centre: phone 1800 015 188.
