Opinion: Domestic violence vigil shines a light on hidden scourge

FOR those who have lost a loved one to domestic violence, May 2 is just as significant as April 25, writes Sherele Moody.

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THOUSANDS of Australians will tonight gather to remember loved ones lost to domestic violence.

Held a week after Australia commemorates Anzac Day, these evocative candlelight vigils do not attract the outpouring of support rightly afforded to the men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice for their country.

Yet, for those who have lost a loved one to domestic violence, May 2 is just as significant as April 25.

“I will never forget the first time I went to a candle-lighting vigil to remember lives lost to domestic homicide,” Sonia Anderson says, reflecting on that sad date back in 2010 when she attended to commemorate her daughter Bianca Faith Girven.

The vigils are a fitting tribute to the victims of Australia’s terror at home – tonight we will light candles for 18 Australians lost to DV in the first five months of 2018.

But who will light a candle for the 49 other people murdered in our country this year?

It is pitiful that the May 2 vigils – which attract relatively small crowds and are only held at a few locations across the country – are the best we as a nation can do for murdered Aussies.

It is also sad that our Federal Government will shell out $50 million on another statue of Captain Cook, but it has not built a national memorial for violence victims.

Bianca Faith Girven was a victim of domestic violence.

Bianca Girven’s mother Sonia Anderson with a picture of Bianca

“I would like for there to be a national memorial for all victims of violence,” Janet Mills Clarke says.

Janet’s daughter Stacey-Ann Tracy was murdered by child killer Barry Gordon Hadlow.

“It would make me feel great to know Stacey was not just another statistic.”

Robyn Summers-Shelley has spent two decades hoping to learn who killed her 31-year-old son Paul Louis Summers.

“To have Paul honoured this way would exceed all of my wildest dreams,” Robyn says.

Support After Murder Australia president Peter Rolfe says the money for the Captain Cook statue could be used in a much more meaningful way.

“It would be marvellous for me and for others to have a memorial because it would highlight the injustices done to us,” he says.

Ebony Simpson was murdered in 1992 by Andrew Peter Garforth.

“There needs to be more of a public conversation about murder and violence, and a memorial would help that,” her mum Christine says.

If you light a candle tonight, please spare a thought for all Australians who are dead because someone else decided they did not deserve to live – it’s the least we can do.

News Corp Australia supports the Queensland Government’s #dosomething campaign, which urges people to call police if they know someone is experiencing domestic and family violence