PHOTO: Coonamble High School students march through Castlereagh Street to mark a global day against gendered violence.
It’s a heavy subject, but this year organisers of Coonamble’s Walk a Mile injected a lighter touch during their event to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women on Monday 25 November.
After a group of over 100 locals, led by high school students, marched from the Local Aboriginal Land Council office to Smith Park, police, teachers and this reporter squeezed into heels for a footrace.
But not before signing a waiver recognising the risks of high-speed high-heel competition.
The students raced in less hazardous thongs after the adults.
“It’s nice to be able to bring a bit of lightness to what is a really serious topic,” Domestic Violence Collective member Tessa Parry said.
“But also, when we talk about how hard it was running in the heels and nearly tripping, it’s a definite metaphor for the things that victims of domestic violence go through.
“Getting the students involved with events like this at their age, I think, is where we can really target messaging like this in town.”
The day also marked the start of the global 16 Days of Activism campaign against gendered violence, which runs until 10 December.
The Coonamble shire had the third highest rate in NSW for reports of domestic violence-related assault between July 2023 and June 2024.
In that period, the shire recorded 73 incidents, or about 1900 per 100,000 people compared to around 457 per 100,000 people across NSW.
Over a barbeque and snow cones at Smith Park, marchers were able to reflect and discuss local issues around family violence and violence against women.
Coonamble High School student Emmy-Lou Hodgson said she doesn’t think there has been a great change in the level of domestic violence in Coonamble over the last five to ten years.
“The marches are good, but the issue probably hasn’t been lessened,” Emmy-Lou said.
“There’s not enough people coming to the march and participating.”
Quota Club member and marcher Wendy Wrigley said community response in the main street to the march was encouraging.
“They came out the front and stood still,” Wendy said.
“It was nice to see the tradies out, pulling up and acknowledging what we do.
“The more that you put it out there, the more that people are aware. Hopefully it’ll allow people to report more if something’s going on.”
Victims of domestic and family violence can find information about support services by contacting 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) or visiting: https://www.1800respect.org.au.
Reports of domestic and family-related crime or abuse can be made by contacting or attending your local police station. In an emergency, contact Triple Zero (000).
Anyone with information relating to domestic and family-related violence is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au.
Information is treated in strict confidence.