200+ join candle lighting ceremony to mark Domestic and Family Violence Prevention month

Amid a ‘national crisis’ of domestic and family violence, Bundaberg came together to remember the 38 women and children to have lost their lives this year.

Bundaberg came together to remember the 38 women and children to have lost their lives to DFV this year at a candle lighting ceremony in the CBD on Wednesday.

A crowd of more than 200 people gathered to honour and reflect upon victims and survivors of domestic violence in a candle lighting ceremony in the Bundaberg CBD on Wednesday evening.

Marking the start of domestic and family violence prevention month, on the same day that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced $925m in funding to address a “national crisis” of domestic violence, the ceremony organised by EDON Place and the Zonta Club of Bundaberg remembered the 38 women and children who have died from domestic and family violence in 2024.

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About 200 people attended a candle lighting ceremony marking the start of domestic and family violence prevention month at Bundaberg Police Beat on Wednesday evening.

In a moving and solemn ceremony, leaders and members of the community, many of whom had lost a loved one to domestic and family violence, came forward to place a candle on a table as the names of the victims were read out by president of EDON Place management committee Scott Lamond.

Some of those who attended carried pictures of loved ones who they had lost through domestic and family violence.

Naomi Parker was carrying pictures of her niece, an alleged victim of domestic violence who cannot be named due to ongoing legal action, and her friend Doreen Langham who was killed by her ex-partner in a brutal attack and house fire in 2021.

Ms Parker said the ceremony was important to give voice to the victims of domestic and family violence.

Naomi Parker attended the ceremony carrying pictures of her niece and friend who were killed through domestic violence. Ms Parker’s niece cannot be identified due to ongoing legal action.

“It’s so important that we are standing here together,” she said.

“We’re fed up, we’re saying enough is enough. The laws need to be stricter, things need to change.

“We’re here today to remember those that have been lost and to give them a voice as well.”

The keynote speaker at the ceremony was Vanessa Parker, co-chair of the Queensland Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Council and chair of the Allison Baden-Clay Foundation named for her sister who was murdered by her husband in 2012.

In her speech, Ms Parker said it was important to pay tribute to the victims of domestic and family violence, and to reflect on the changes needed to put an end to violence and coercive control in the home.

Co-chair of the Queensland Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Council Vanessa Parker OAM said more focus needs to be placed on men as the perpetrators of 95 per cent of domestic violence cases.

“When we use phrases like ‘it’s just boys being boys’ … that immediately sends a message to that young boy that his behaviour is acceptable,” she said.

“We need boys to stop being boys and start being more human.”

Speaking after the ceremony, Ms Parker said while she welcomed the funding announced by the federal government to support women to leave violent relationships more focus needed to be placed on men as the perpetrators of 95 per cent of domestic violence cases.

“We certainly welcome the huge amount of funding that has been announced today, but only if it’s going to be used in the right areas,” she said.

“However, I do think that we need to focus on men, and we certainly don’t want to call out men, we want to call in men rather than call them out.

“There are some good men out there doing amazing work, and they are calling out those work colleagues or friends that are sexist and are degrading of women.

“But I think there definitely can be funding directed towards more men’s behaviour change programs and more perpetrator programs.”

Wide Bay Burnett District Officer Superintendent Paul Algie said Bundaberg was “impacted heavily” by domestic and family violence, and the ceremony was important in reminding the community that domestic violence goes beyond being a police issue.

Wide Bay Burnett District Officer Superintendent Paul Algie said a community wide solution was needed to domestic and family violence.

“This is an issue that everybody in the community … has got to play a part in this,” he said.

“I’d say to everybody, you need to call it out and you need to report it.

“If (your friends and family) are victims of domestic and family violence or intimate partner violence, they may become a little bit withdrawn.

“Look for the signs, ask a few questions because in this day and age it’s okay to ask people if they are okay.”

Bundaberg mayor Helen Blackburn concurred, saying “we all need to be caring for one another”.

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“It’s knowing what those signs are, listening for the arguments over the fence and sticking your nose in if it’s needed,” she said.

“Don’t sit back and just let it happen. And while we don’t want to be in other people’s lives, we also don’t want to see other people hurt, so just check on your neighbour.”