Dubbo: Macquarie, Dubbo, South, West rotary clubs join Orana Mid-Western District police to raise awareness for domestic and family violence

Cops in the state’s west have joined forces with rotary clubs to raise awareness for domestic and family violence during Purple Friday. Here’s their plan to tackle it head on.

Cops in the stat’es west have joined forces with Dubbo’s rotary clubs to raise further community awareness of domestic and family violence across the state’s central west.

Orana Mid-Western District police have partnered with four rotary clubs, including Dubbo, West, Macquarie and South to recognise 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence which began last Saturday.

On Friday, social organisations attended a Purple Friday event to showcase their support for the new partnership, in hopes to raise awareness in the wider community.

Acting commander Ray Stynes stated domestic and family violence is a community issue which needs the support of everyone to help diminish.

Acting commander Ray Stynes. Photo: Tijana Birdjan.

“It’s still a hidden problem so we’ve got to bring that awareness out ... so that people can understand and see the ramifications of it,” Mr Stynes said.

“They’ve [Rotary clubs] got access to a lot of smaller community groups ... and with the police being able to access their membership, it’s going to increase our footprint in relation to that as well.”

Rotary Club of Dubbo South president David Duffy told The Dubbo News the clubs are joining forces with the police to stamp out domestic violence in the community.

Lorna Breeze and Maureen Murray-Wilcox Photo: Tijana Birdjan

Orana Mid-Western District police and rotary clubs raising awareness for domestic and family violence. Photo: Tijana Birdjan

“It unfortunately goes through all demographics in our community and all age groups, it’s one of those things that people have the break the cycle,” Mr Duffy said.

“It’s in every single community - we all know somebody who has been a victim or is suffering.

“We’ve got to be standing on the front foot and saying no, openly saying no.”

Rotary Club of Dubbo Macquarie president Lorraine Holland said having a regional voice for domestic violence is vital as it happens across all communities.