Candlelight vigils for domestic violence to be held across Far North

Hundreds are expected to gather across the Far North this week to take a stand against domestic violence, as state and territory leaders convene to address the “national crisis”.

Hundreds are expected to gather across the Far North this week to take a stand against what state and territory leaders are now describing as a “national crisis”.

Cairns Regional Domestic Violence Service is hosting three candle-lighting vigils this Wednesday, May 1, to mark the beginning of Domestic Family and Sexual Violence Prevention Month.

The three events in Cairns, Atherton and Mossman join dozens of other rallies across the country which have prompted an emergency national cabinet meeting on Wednesday to solely focus on the issue.

Cairns Regional Domestic Violence Service is hosting three candle-lighting vigils this Wednesday, May 1, to mark the beginning of Domestic Family and Sexual Violence Prevention Month. PICTURE: BRENDAN RADKE

At least 32 Australian women have been killed this year according to the Red Heart Campaign Femicide Watch. 31 of those lives were lost due to alleged male violence.

Last year, 74 women were killed in unlawful deaths across the country.

Womens Centre FNQ manager Nicole Dye said in the past week more than 100 women and children had sought help from their service.

“This is all women and children who are either thinking about leaving a domestic violence relationship, or women who have left and have presented at our service with their bags packed, ready to go, needing somewhere safe to go” she said.

Women's Centre Cairns manager Nicole Dye and her staff are throwing their full support behind the candlelight vigil for domestic violence victims being held at the Cairns Wharf on Wednesday night. Picture: Brendan Radke

“It is at crisis point. It really, really is.

“People have had a gutful – I know people who have been in this sector, myself included – I’ve been in this sector for nearly 20 years – who think it is the worst it has ever been.”

Womens Centre FNQ is supporting the vigils on Wednesday, which Ms Dye described as one of the most important events of the year.

“It’s a very sombre occasion. It’s an opportunity for us to come together to remember women and children who have been senselessly murdered at the hands of perpetrators,” she said.

The Cairns vigil will be held at Wharf One Cafe from 5.30pm Wednesday.

Vigils will also run at Mossman near the Raintrees Cafe from 5.40pm, and at Anzac Park in Atherton from 5.40pm.

Originally published as Candlelight vigils for domestic violence to be held across Far North