Rotary drives home family violence message

Published on 18 July 2019

Rotary Clubs from Maryborough and Horsham have teamed up to deliver an important family violence message to Wimmera people.

From this week drivers will see large banners displaying the words “sayNo2familyviolence” as they enter Horsham from Natimuk Road.

The campaign’s origins belong in Maryborough where a local Rotary Club has promoted awareness and conversation about family violence since 2014.

The concept of bringing the campaign to Horsham started August 2017 when the Rotary Club of Maryborough presented their achievements to Rotary Club of Horsham East.

Since then, both the Rotary Clubs of Horsham and Horsham East have worked together to roll out the “sayNo2familyviolence” campaign in the Wimmera.

Horsham and Maryborough are cities with some if the highest family violence rates in Victoria.

Along with the road signs, there are plans to install signage in retail and commercial areas. Wallet cards have also been printed which provide critical information on how vulnerable people can seek help.

Rotary Club of Horsham East Past President Steve Holmes said promoting respectful relationships between all people was one way of helping to break the cyclical problem of family violence.

“One of the program's aims is to empower everyone in the community to feel confident to report incidents of family violence,” Mr Holmes said.

“Everyone in the community has a role to play and the first step is to help promote awareness,” he said.

Family violence campaigner Simone O’Brien congratulated Rotary for bring the signs to Horsham.

“It’s so warming to know that Horsham is going above and beyond, to help the epidemic in Domestic Violence, we are in,” Ms O’Brien said.

“Knowing the support and services are there for change to happen, our next generations will have a different mindset and change will evolve.

“Being a survivor myself, this means a lot knowing the support is there,” she said.

Rotary Club of Horsham East and Horsham Rural City Council are members of the Communities of Respect and Equality Alliance (CoRE), which has 118 participating organisations in the Grampians area. 

Melissa Morris, Regional Consultant for Women’s Health Grampians said members of the CoRE Alliance looked to take action to prevent violence against women and children.

“It’s great to see the Rotary Clubs undertake this program.  It is important that people know what constitutes family violence, that it’s not OK and where they are able to get help,” Ms Morris said.

The Sexual Assault and Family Violence Centre’s Horsham Co-ordinator Jo-Anne Bates also supported the project.

“Family Violence is unacceptable in any form, and in any community, it is everyone’s responsibility to prevent violence against women and children,” Ms Bates said.