Zonta Club forging path to ending gender-based violence

Southern Downs feminist activist groups will unite for 16 days in a bid to raise awareness for gender-based violence.

Members of Warwick Zonta, Southern Downs deputy mayor Sheryl Windle, councillors Sarah Deane and Russell Wanting take a stand against gender-based violence. Photo: Supplied

Florescent orange will light the centre of Warwick for 16 days to raise awareness of gender-based violence.

Zonta Warwick has enlisted the help of at least 30 local businesses to help spread the word that violence against women is never OK.

Club president Colleen Hunt said with the alarming statistics it was important everyone was aware of domestic and family violence.

Warwick's Town Hall will remain florescent orange for 16 days to raise awareness of gender based violence. Photo: Supplied

“(I think) the only way to stop it is to talk about it and make it normal for women to talk to one another about what’s going on,” she said.

In the worst year for domestic violence related deaths since 2018, at least 80 women and children have reportedly died at the hands of this insidious violence.

The alarming statistic shows there’s one death every four days.

Ms Hunt said while there’s still a ways to go, the state government’s coercive control laws were a step in the right direction.

Members of Warwick Zonta, Southern Downs deputy mayor Sheryl Windle, councillors Sarah Deane and Russell Wanting take a stand against gender-based violence. Photo: Supplied

“It’s not something that’s always obvious and it’s also a fine line between being concerned for someone and being controlling,” she said.

“Before I started hearing about it on the news I wasn’t aware what coercive control was.”

Zonta’s sister club in Stanthorpe will hold a candlelight walk on November 29 at 5.30pm in tribute to the women who have lost their lives at the hands of domestic and family violence.