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Everyone invited to 2023 Candlelight Vigil on 3 May 2023 and remember victims of domestic violence organised by South Gippsland Shire

South Gippsland Shire Council invites the community to a Candlelight Vigil on 3 May to remember victims of domestic violence. The region has high family violence rates with 528 call outs in 2022.

By news@gippsland - 24th April 2023 - Back to News

South Gippsland Shire Council would like to extend a warm invitation to everyone in our community to attend a Candlelight Vigil on Wednesday 3 May from 6.30pm outside council's main office at 9 Smith Street, Leongatha. The Vigil, which is being held in locations across Gippsland, Victoria and Australia, has been organised to remember and honour those who have lost their lives to domestic and family violence.

South Gippsland invites the community to a Candlelight Vigil on May 3 to remember those lost to domestic violence outside council's main office in Leongatha

Gippsland's violence statistics

In 2022, South Gippsland ranked 26 out of all 79 local government areas in Victoria for family violence rates. In real numbers, that is 528 call outs recorded by Victoria Police. These are just those who have reported.

The bigger picture across Australia paints a sombre picture, with one woman killed every week and one child killed each fortnight over the past 10 years. More than one third of women have experienced violence from a man they know.

For more information on statistics and Vigils being held around our region, please visit the Gippsland Women's Health website.

Domestic violence remembrance

Cr Nathan Hersey, Mayor South Gippsland Shire Council said, "The unnecessary loss of any life due to domestic violence is truly tragic. South Gippsland doesn't have the same reported numbers of domestic violence as other areas."

"But it is important that we acknowledge the risk that particularly women and children face in domestic violence situations.Our community can show solidarity and joint condemnation of this violence. I strongly encourage everyone to come along on Wednesday 3 May to reflect with us," Cr Hersey said.

Pictures from Wikipedia website.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com