Hundreds gather at Toowoomba candlelight vigil for domestic violence victims and survivors
In the shine of hundreds of candles, a grieving community stood in solidarity against the devastating effects of domestic violence and to pay tribute to a beloved Toowoomba mum.
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The Toowoomba community has come together to stand against domestic violence and honour those who have been taken too soon.
Hundreds gathered on the grounds of Gips Restaurant in Toowoomba on Tuesday night for a candlelight vigil to honour those whose lives have been destroyed by domestic violence as part of Domestic and Family Violence Prevention month.
The vigil, guided by Protea Place, paid special tribute to the life of Toowoomba mother and community champion Louise, who was allegedly killed in a domestic violence attack this April.
Friend and Protea Place chief executive Amanda Dalton said Louise was a proud ally in the fight against domestic violence.
“Tonight looks very different to what I had originally planned,” Ms Dalton said.
“Louise would have been here tonight as she was for everything for Protea Place, and not in a million years did I think we would be holding a vigil in her honour.
“My heart is broken.
“The pain is real and it’s tangible.”
Members of Louise’s family sat supported by the community and among loved ones of women and children impacted by domestic violence.
“I feel that sense of ache for our families who are present here in the named and in the nameless and we extend our hearts in support to you because we ache with you,” Queensland Police Chaplain Jeff Bails said.
“We can never say we understand but we stand with you.
“It very easy in the roles that we serve in our community as we perceive and manage this horrible thing in domestic violence to feel like it’s ever increasing
“I want you to realise...light is stronger than darkness, because darkness is purely the absence of light.
“This vigil tonight isn’t about a number, isn’t necessarily about lighting a candle, it’s about the heart of a community turning on its own light and standing in the darkness for what is right, honourable and dignified.”
Toowoomba mayor Geoff MacDonald shared a message of sorrow, gratitude and hope.
“We are a region that looks after each other, a region that will stand up in disaster in need and it’s been demonstrated again over the last four weeks – in fact over the last few days,” he said.
“Tonight as we light a candle, a candle of hope, it’s more than that tonight, it’s profound hope, it's a deep, deep hope that we as a community demonstrate all that is good about us.”
Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence Minister Amanda Camm, who attended in person on Tuesday night, voiced a need for change and implored the community to stand together in unity.
“Domestic and Family Violence Prevention month is one month of the year that we come together to recognise, and we say lives lost, but they are lives taken; they are opportunities lost, opportunities to see, for a mother, her children grow, opportunities to be a daughter opportunities to live a life free without fear,” Ms Camm said.
“Sadly for the victims we are lighting candles for tonight there are many more either standing in the crowd, they are our neighbours, they are in our schools, they are our children.
“Too many people are taken, are murdered, are lost, we are committed to doing things differently.
“Tonight hold your loved ones dearly, if you have a problem, seek help, if you are subject to violence, ask for help.
“We need to work together and we need to pause and make sure that these beautiful women who have lost their lives have not been lost in vain.”
Originally published as Hundreds gather at Toowoomba candlelight vigil for domestic violence victims and survivors
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