On Friday 18 August, Maleny held its first Red Rose Rally, along with 8 other communities in Queensland.
Since 2010, a Red Rose Rally has been held following the death of every Queensland woman killed due to domestic violence – the community is invited to gather in a prominent public place, often with family and friends of the deceased victim, and pay their respects.
This time, we remembered the three Queensland women and a baby killed by intimate partners in the last three months, along with the deaths of two innocent people caught up in one of those incidents. We named each one, and honoured them with a minute’s silence, before each participant placed a red rose in remembrance. Nationally, there have been 35 confirmed deaths of women, and tens of children, through domestic violence since January this year. Despite growing awareness of the problem, it is not going away. In fact, deaths from domestic violence have increased by 21 per cent from this time last year. Of course, the deaths are just the tip of the iceberg, with police in Queensland called out to 500 serious domestic violence incidences every day! And they have laid 2800 charges of non-lethal strangulation. In addition, how many more are living with abuse but do not contact the police? The Red Rose Rallies are an initiative of the Red Rose Foundation, an organisation dedicated to monitoring domestic violence deaths and providing awareness and support for those affected by this increasing scourge. Maleny’s rally was arranged by Speak Up Now – Stop Domestic and Family Violence (Maleny and Blackall Range), a collaboration set up between the Rotary Club of Maleny, Zonta Blackall Range, Quota Club of Maleny, and the Maleny Neighbourhood Centre, with support from many other organisations and individuals. To see how you can help prevent domestic and family violence, follow Speak Up Now on Facebook. Useful information can be found at ’1800 RESPECT’ and ‘10 Ways You Can Help Prevent Domestic Violence Locally’.