Domestic violence survivor plans memorial to Australian women that died at the hands of their partners

An 87-year-old survivor of domestic violence is one step closer to establishing South Australia’s first memorial for hundreds of Australian women who have died — 72 so far this year — at the hands of their partners.

An 87-year-old survivor of domestic violence is one step closer to establishing South Australia’s first memorial for hundreds of Australian women who have died — 72 so far this year — at the hands of their partners.

“We need a place to go and mourn our dead,” Adelaide great-grandmother Helen Oxenham said at the proposed memorial site in the Adelaide parklands.

“We need a place for survivors to gather strength from each other and tell their stories, and for the wider community to be aware this is happening and gather the courage to stop it.”

Earlier this week, Ms Oxenham announced the selected concept design for “The Place of Courage” sculpture garden commemorating domestic violence victims and survivors proposed for Park 21 West, on South Tce.

Artists Christine Cholewa, left, and Deb Jones, right, with 87-year-old domestic violence survivor and activist Helen Oxenham. Picture: AAP / Mike Burton

She opened Adelaide’s first women’s shelter at Christies Beach in the 1970s, called Place of Courage, after surviving family violence throughout her childhood and teens in Dublin, Ireland.

“My father used to beat us … and then he would pummel (my mother), and I remember beating my fists on his knees,” she said.

“I can’t tell you how awful that is as a child — it lives with you forever.”

Designers from CHEB and Oxigen say the successful concept design, which includes locally sourced granite and slate sculptures ringed by ripples, will create private spaces for reflection and larger areas for commemoration.

“Ripple is an appropriate word and visual to use,” CHEB designer Deb Jones said.

“It’s the perfect analogy for domestic violence and its far- reaching effects, and also reflects how positive actions of love, kindness and care go on to help heal and repair.”

The project’s next stage involves a $30,000 design development phase and stakeholder consultation to refine the concept plan, and then seek Adelaide City Council development approval for a possible launch on November 25.

The memorial garden is dependent on Ms Oxenham’s advocacy group, Spirit of Woman, raising an initial $30,000 in donations and a further $350,000 to bring the plan to fruition.

Adelaide Lord Mayor Sandy Verschoor said the parklands — home to numerous culturally significant places of remembrance — were the perfect setting for The Place of Courage.

For more information, see www.spiritofwoman.com.au