Cherry Gerente Ogar death at Port Hughes sparks warning for silent bystanders

Failure to act on signs of domestic violence is a fatal error that can no longer be accepted by South Australians, safety advocates say.

Women’s safety advocates have issued a blunt message to South Australians – don’t be a silent bystander – after the state recorded its fourth fatality allegedly linked to family violence this year.

Their united plea for vigilance comes four days after 37-year-old Port Hughes mother Cherry Gerente Ogar died from severe head injuries.

Her husband, Antony Ogar, has been charged with murder.

He is yet to enter a plea and has disputed the cause of his wife’s injuries, telling police she hit the back of her head during an incident at their Port Hughes home during the state’s Covid-19 lockdown last week.

So far this year, 27 women and children around Australia have lost their lives to alleged domestic violence.

This compares with 17 at the beginning of May when the Sunday Mail launched the Not One More campaign to ensure domestic violence prevention stayed firmly on the agenda ahead of the state budget and, now, upcoming state and federal elections.

Cherry Gerente Ogar. Picture: Facebook

Antony Ogar who allegedly seriously assaulted his wife. Picture: Facebook

Susie Smith, co-chairwoman of Embolden SA, the peak body representing domestic, family and sexual violence services in the state, pleaded with South Australians to do more, saying, “It doesn’t have to be this way”.

“Please, if you suspect something’s not right, whether that’s for a friend or family member, someone in your community, or even in your own relationship, please reach out. Even the seemingly smallest action could be life-changing,” Ms Smith said.

Women’s Legal Services SA CEO Zita Ngor. Picture Supplied

Zita Ngor, chief executive of Women’s Legal Service (SA), said far too many of the rape and domestic and family violence cases supp­orted by the service involved silent bystanders – and against a backdrop of rising cases as a result of the pandemic.

“One of the things that has consistently struck out at us on about hearing these kinds of stories is that people heard screaming, shouting and witnessed disturbing things but there’s no mention of the police being called until much later,” she said.

Ms Ngor said lives would be saved if more funding was funnelled into educating the public on how to be good, active, safe bystanders.

In April, Henry David Shepherdson killed himself and his baby daughter, Kobi, in a murder-suicide at the Whispering Wall reservoir site in the Barossa Valley. Court documents revealed that, hours earlier, Shepherdson was mak­ing a legal bid for permission to contact his family.

He had been accused of domestic violence-related off­ences in December 2020 and had been barred from coming within 200m of his family.

Our Watch chief executive Patty Kinnersly said evidence showed that disasters and crises, such as the pandemic, tended to have a greater impact on women and could lead to more violence against them.

She said now more than ever it was important to continue to check in on each other, on friends, family, workmates and neighbours.

“Do not hesitate to call triple-0 if you think something is not right,” she said.

Our Watch is running the “Doing Nothing Does Harm” campaign, focusing on bystanders, which is federally funded until 2022.

The state government has been running the “Break the Cycle” advertising campaign.

Our Watch domestic violence call-out campaign to help bystanders act. The campaign is called Doing Nothing Does Harm and is funded by the federal government until 2022.

Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Assistant Minister Carolyn Power said domestic violence was “devastating and unacceptable”.

“Everybody in our community can play a role in ending domestic and family violence and if you see or hear anything out of the ordinary, please, report it to police,” she said.

Opposition prevention of domestic violence spokeswoman Katrine Hildyard said more effort was needed to raise community awareness of gendered violence, its causes, and the need for bystanders to contact police.

The government is looking to expand its Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme, under which police would be compelled to warn South Australians who they suspect are at risk of domestic violence. It is also investigating further amendments to SA’s intervention order scheme to include supervision and reporting requirements, and the development of a domestic violence offenders register.

Labor has introduced laws in state parliament to toughen penalties for repeated breaches of intervention orders and is proposing criminalising coercive control and electronically monitoring alleg­ed offenders charged with serious domestic violence offences while on bail.

For good bystander tips visit www.doingnothingdoesharm.org.au, or www.breakthecycle.sa.gov.au

Why do some kids mirror violence, others shun it?

By Rebecca Baker

In an Australian-first study, Adelaide researchers are investigating why some kids who grow up with domestic violence are more likely to perpetuate domestic abuse – and others reject it.

Lead researcher Fiona Buchanan, a UniSA senior lecturer in social work, said it was vital to establish the factors – and support – that could help young people.

Dr Buchanan said early results showed teachers could play a pivotal role, so too extended family and friends of the family.

“There is so much talk of intergenerational abuse and almost an acceptance that if you grow up with domestic violence, you will go on and be part of it in your own relationship but that is not all of the story,” she said.

“Often, people assume that these children will become products of their lived environment, emulating the relationships they grew up with as they become adults.

“But what is overlooked is that a child’s upbringing is the sum of all its parts, including a range of social contexts, opportunities, limitations, and influences that can shape beliefs, perceptions and behaviours.”

There is so much talk of intergenerational abuse but that is just part of the story, researchers say.

Dr Buchanan said results from a pilot project done ahead of the current, large-scale study showed young people believed meeting other children going through similar experiences would help.

“So far, most survey respondents have seen the value of organised groups for children enduring domestic violence ... (to learn) about healthy relationships as well as the range of behaviours that are not acceptable in relationships,” she said.

“(While) teachers who seemed to understand were remembered as supports that helped children cope with what was happening at home ... for some, but by no means all, school offered a form of temporary sanctuary where they could achieve through academic work, interests or sport.”

Dr Buchanan said insight from young people who had experienced domestic violence growing up was crucial.

“Domestic violence is at epidemic proportions in Australia, and despite all efforts, there is no indication that the numbers are falling,” Dr Buchanan said.

“(However) there’s evidence to show the cycle of abuse can be stopped through various supports – (we want to know) what these are,” she said.

“(We want) to find out what has positively influenced (young people) and helped them reject the transmission of intergenerational violence,

“This has big implications for challenging these ongoing assumptions that children will go on to perpetuate the violence they see in their homes (and) help campaigners, policy makers and practitioners accurately plan and deliver successful initiatives to encourage young people to thrive”.

Researchers are inviting those aged 18 to 30 to join the study.

To take part, go to this link: redcap.link/youngpeoplerejectingdvsurvey