A Queensland newspaper has shared a powerful message in the wake of a week filled with tragedy.
Trigger warning: This post deals with accounts of domestic violence and may be triggering for readers.
The Courier Mail, a state-wide Queensland newspaper, has published a front cover acknowledging the vicious attacks on women this week.
High profile Queenslanders, including retired sportsman Darren Lockyer, netballer Laura Geitz and Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, have joined together in a campaign against domestic violence. And it couldn’t have come at a more important time.
With news this week that 24-year-old mother Tara Brown was allegedly killed by her ex-partner, and 49-year-old Karina Lock was allegedly murdered by her ex-husband at a Gold Coast McDonald’s, Australians have been shocked by the brutality of this epidemic of violence.
Lockyer, a 38-year-old father-of-three, said it’s important to teach our children the correct way to act.
“The recent events of violence against women is both tragic and very sad,” he told The Courier Mail.
“It is not the society we want to live in nor should we accept it. Behaviours don’t change overnight but we need to draw a line in the sand and get serious about the way we treat other human beings with respect, especially our women and children.
“As a parent to three young boys, myself and my wife Loren are always mindful of setting the right examples… Our children are watching and they need us to show them the right way.”
62 women have died this year at the hands of their partner – that’s more than two women per week. Day after day, more devastating stories are surfacing of women being abused by the person who is supposed to love and cherish them the most. Police have estimated that each morning before 6:00am, 195 domestic violence complaints are issued. And those are only the ones that are reported.
Congratulations to the Courier Mail for dedicating its front page to this issue and helping to bring this issue out into the light.
We hope that the paper continues to cover these stories and ensures that these women’s names are not forgotten.
If this post brought up issues for you, or if you are in need of help, call 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or go to WhiteRibbon.org.
Top Comments
It's wonderful in theory to say we need to teach men it not okay to beat your partner but i think they know it's not okay and don't give a damn. The criminal bikie thug that killed Tara Brown knows it's not okay - there will always be criminals who beat their partners no matter how many of us stand up and write speeches. The message may resinate with some but not all. I think we need to help women get out when they're desperate and scared, not send them away because "He hasn't done anything yet" We need to get women help to get out of these situations as a matter of emergency. Domestic violence needs to be treated like a serious crime as it is if you king hit a stranger. Why is it not okay to king hit a stranger in the street but it's perfectly okay to smack your partner around at home?? And finally, what i found ironic during the media reports of these awful stories they explained Tara when to the police and she was turned away and in the next sentence they say "if you're experiencing violence call 1800......".
I don't find it powerful. A couple of retired footy players and some journalists? Where are the political leaders? All it says to me is that Family Violence is perpetrated by blue collar blokes who follow the footy - because that's who would pay attention to that front page. When we have a front page full of one thousand faces - from all walks of life and all ages - then it will be a powerful statement.