A WALK to highlight the scourge of domestic violence will be held this Saturday with organiser’s hopeful they will be joined by PM Tony Abbott.
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The event is part of Mental Health Month and is a precursor to November 25’s White Ribbon Day which is marked nationwide.
Tenterfield Health Committee and Tenterfield Community Hub have been working together to plan the event which will see a group, donning white, walking from Bruxner to Millbrook Parks.
“Every year the health committee has several projects that we try and address – this is one we felt we could try and make a difference,” Tenterfield Health Committee member Michael Moore said.
“This is a national issue, a worldwide issue – we felt, as men, that domestic violence in all its forms is unacceptable.
“We’re really looking forward to this being a community event,” he said.
The march is scheduled for the same day Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Member for New England Barnaby Joyce will be in town for the 125-year anniversary of Sir Henry Parkes Federation Speech.
The health committee said they hoped that the PM and Federal MP would have time to join in the event.
In the 12 months leading up to June this year there was a significant number of reported incidents of domestic violence in Tenterfield.
“Domestic violence should always be reported – the most important part is to talk to somebody, some begin to believe they deserve it,” Gail Galloway from the Community Hub said.
“It becomes a corrosive situation that affects everyone.”
With incidents on the rise, Ms Galloway said it was a cause for concern that Tenterfield doesn’t currently operate a safe house.
“There is no safe house or refuge in Tenterfield but we can organise crisis accommodation.”
Inverell, Armidale and Lismore are currently the nearest towns that offer safe house protection.
Michael Moore said the health committee were hopeful that with enough support the walk against domestic violence could become an annual affair.
The walk gets underway from Bruxner Park at 11am this Saturday.