Wendy Sleeman remembered at Red Rose Rally in Labrador park
Wendy Sleeman spent two and a half years volunteering for a domestic violence charity before her death, allegedly at the hands of her son. Now Gold Coasters have gathered to remember her.
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Wendy Sleeman spent two and a half years volunteering for a domestic violence charity before her death, allegedly at the hands of her son.
Ms Sleeman, 61, died after being allegedly kidnapped from her Elanora home last week.
Her son Slade Murdok – also known as Jamie Sleeman – has been charged with murder, kidnapping and multiple other offences in relation to the incident.
On Thursday a group of about 50 people gathered at Norm Rix Park in Labrador under a few portable gazebos to remember Ms Sleeman’s life as a part of the Red Rose Rally.
In a speech at the rally, Hearts of Purple CEO Michelle Beattie said Ms Sleeman had been a “purple bin” volunteer with the charity.
“Wendy was only just speaking to one of our volunteers four years ago – she was asking about how Hearts of Purple was going,” she said.
“She was always checking in – every time I spoke to her she was always very polite.”
Hearts of Purple was founded in 2017 in the wake of the brutal domestic violence murder of Gold Coast woman Teresa Bradford.
The purple bin program allows people to recycle containers to help raise funds for women escaping domestic violence situations.
Ms Beattie said the community needed to wait for police to finish their investigation and also for the coroner’s report to be completed.
“If it comes back that Wendy was failed by the system I ask that we come back together and don’t play the blame game,” she said.
Red Rose Rallies are held by the Red Rose Foundation after the death of a woman in the context of domestic violence or alleged domestic violence in order to remember their lives and also shine a light on the issue, which some speakers described as a “pandemic”.
A number of speaker’s spoke at the rally urging community members to offer support and assistance.
Queensland Police Gold Coast District Chief Superintendent Craig Hanlon urged the men at the rally to speak up when other men made jokes about domestic violence.
Red Rose Foundation president and Gold Coast Centre Against Sexual Violence director Di MacLeod said there were steps everyone could take to help prevent domestic violence.
“For individuals it is about taking the steps to make you aware of domestic violence,” she said.
“It’s making yourself aware of what domestic violence looks like whether it’s perpetrated by another family member or an intimate partner so that it’s recognised.
“You have to be able to recognise it before you can respond.
“You need to know where to respond.”
She said she hoped there was no “wrong door” when people reached out for help.
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