Respoders are urging local families to reach out for help over the festive season
Domestic Violence responders are urging families to reach out for support, as statistics show significant increases in calls for help over the Christmas holidays period
Townsville
Don't miss out on the headlines from Townsville. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Rebecca Walker’s son says killer was ‘trash’, a ‘weak human being’, ‘unfit for role of a man’
- Banned Townsville heath worker Christopher Costello busted working in industry
- Townsville Daily Law List: Full list of everyone facing court
DOMESTIC Violence responders are urging families to reach out for support, as statistics show significant increases in calls for help over the Christmas holidays period.
North Queensland Domestic Violence Resource Service CEO Mandy Thomas has pleaded with people to keep their behaviour in check.
“We just need to remember what’s important,” she said.
“Services like ours are always concerned about safety as the holidays are a time for people to come together, but also brings extra pressures around expectations and gift giving.
“Situations can get out of control really quickly so we’re just asking people to be aware of their surroundings and their behaviour.
“All of these things can create addition stress and we always see a spike in instances.
“Certainly extreme heat, alcohol and other drug consumption does not help unsafe situations.”
Ms Thomas said the most important thing for people to know was that support was available.
“If you’re a person that uses violence, reach out for help by ringing MensLine, Lifeline,” she said.
As the community still struggles to comprehend the senseless death of Rebecca Walker in a suspected murder suicide on Tuesday, Ms Thomas said she and her colleagues are working hard to avoid another tragedy. “After the devastation we have seen this week, we are urging people to please reach out for help and do not suffer in silence.”
QUEENSLAND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SERVICES
DVConnect Womensline: 1800 811 811
DVConnect Mensline: 1800 600 636
1800RESPECT national hotline: 1800 656 463
Originally published as Respoders are urging local families to reach out for help over the festive season
Slick slogans, promises and fresh meat: Townsville candidates’ final pitches
As voters head to the polling booths today, we asked Townsville, Thuringowa and Mundingburra’s main candidates to give us their final pitch on the biggest issues they’ll tackle — and why they deserve your vote.
‘Didn’t have a problem until the last 80km’: Shitbox Rally’s last car
The last car to cross the Shitbox Rally finish line in Townsville on Friday was a 1999 Holden Rodeo, formerly used as a supermarket trolley tractor, that gave up the ghost in Mingela, of all places.