NSW Police, Northern Rivers community groups and leaders unite to help stamp out domestic violence

Ballina and other northern NSW communities are rallying against family violence as horrifying crimes continue to be carried out locally. It’s hoped survivors will feel “empowered to report”.

Ballina region residents, community groups, and school students will join Richmond police and leaders to take to the streets of Ballina and say ‘yes’ to respectful relationships.

It comes as Ballina has been holding Purple Friday each week, involving donning purple shirts to send a clear message – domestic violence has no place in the coastal town or surrounds.

Last year’s Ballina walk. Picture: Supplied

However, this publication continues reporting on horrifying domestic violence (DV) incidents and court cases in Ballina and across the Northern Rivers. Several of the most harrowing and tragic cases have emerged from the Ballina Shire.

Guest speakers at the Ballina Rotary Walk Against Domestic & Family Violence are set to include Ballina Mayor Sharon Cadwallader, who was recently re-elected and has been a strong backer of Purple Friday.

Also due to speak is retired Qld Police commissioner Bob Atkinson AO APM (that state’s DFV Prevention Council co-chair) and Jacque Lachmund, a council member, DV sector stalwart and a survivor.

Ballina and other northern NSW communities are demanding change. Picture: Supplied

The event kicks off in Ballina CBD from 1pm on Friday. It highlights the cowardly and devastating nature of DV and is part of the 16 Days of Activism campaign held each year.

Ballina Coast High School leaders will lead this year’s walk, alongside police, and the walk is due to start from Ballina Visitor Information Centre (next to the Ballina swimming pool).

The 1km walk from the Information Centre on River St to the Ballina Indoor Sports Centre on Cherry Street is meant to “educate the community” and “raise awareness”.

Ballina Rotarians Robyn Harmon, Jodie Shelly, NSW Police Constable Scott Wilson, and Rotarians Rob Chillman and Dave Harmon during last year’s campaigning.

Rotary Club of Ballina at Richmond’s David Harmon said silence encouraged DV and the community needed to be educated and speak out.

He said the walk helped people experiencing violence “to feel believed, to feel heard”.

Mr Harmon said survivors who have not yet come forward “do at times feel empowered to report” thanks to such events.

Ballina Rotarian Dave Harmon and Richmond Police District Superintendent Scott Tanner teaming up to tackle domestic violence in 2023

He said it would likely take many years to bring about cultural change and make further inroads to stamp out domestic violence in communities.

“Along with the Purple Friday campaign, we partnered with Cherry St Bowlo and the amount of conversations those shirts start is amazing (and) the walk achieves a lot,” Mr Harmon said.

Ballina Rotary and other organisations are sending a clear message. Picture: Supplied

He said he had experienced the destructive nature of family violence first-hand and he wanted to make Ballina a safer place.

“That was my spark,” Mr Harmon said.

He said the club would continue to advocate for victims, raise awareness and educate people.

“We’re also connected to the respectful relationships program in primary and secondary schools called Love Bites … ,” he said.

“Research supports (the thinking that) the best way to bring about long term behavioural change is to educate our youth about what a respectful relationship looks like.”

Ballina students and police marching against family and domestic violence in Ballina last year. Picture: Supplied

The club has links to other DV prevention programs like Stop it at the Start and Love Wise and Mr Harmon said he was glad the programs were “taking off”.

Mr Harmon, Project Lead for Rotary South Pacific, said the adoption of Ballina Rotary’s campaign model across Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands sparked a partnership with NSW Police for the next three years.

NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb was part of the November 25 launch of the 16 Days of Activism campaign.

Locals join the charge. Picture: Supplied

Mr Harmon said both Rotary and police want to work on better DV prevention strategies.

“We’ve found in Ballina in the last two years there has been a marked increase in the notifications in reporting domestic violence and that can be attributed to the awareness raising and the work we’re doing around the Ballina area,” he said.

The 16 Days campaign which began in 1991 is held from November 25 – International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women – until December 10, which is Human Rights Day.

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