Dalby’s first DV march to highlight its prevalence within the community

Dalby’s first domestic violence awareness walk will provide the community with information on the issue as well as information on the support available.

With a woman killed every four days in Australia and a 50 per cent rise in domestic violence homicides in Queensland, Dalby residents will have the opportunity to take a stand at a march this weekend.

Organised by Dalby Police, the domestic violence awareness march will start at 5pm on Saturday at Bell Park with residents walking to Mary’s Place to hear from key stakeholders about the issue while enjoying food and drinks supplied by the Dalby Rotary Club and Kool Look.

Following the speeches the Western Downs Regional Council will also run a free screening of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem.

Police Liaison Officer at Dalby Station Jenny Thomas encouraged people to come and support the event. Picture: Emily Devon

Event organiser and Police Liaison Officer Jenny Thomas said this was the first time they had held the march which would shine a light on the serious issues of domestic violence within the Western Downs’ community.

“It is an awareness walk all about spreading awareness for domestic violence,” she said.

“At the event one of our sergeants will do a talk about the domestic violence statistics in our community as well as providing information on the supports that are available for victims.

“This is the first time we are hosting the event so we aren't sure how many will come it could be anywhere between 50 and 500 but we encourage everyone to come down.

“We have sent out the invites to the schools and the councillors have put information on their pages.”

Ms Thomas encouraged people to come down and show their support.

“It's about making people aware of how much of an issue it is in the community and if people become privy to it how they can go about supporting people who are suffering,” she said.

“Come show your support for people who are in those situations and show everyone they you are aware it is happening in the community.”

Mayor Andrew Smith said the council was happy to be supporting Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month in May and he hoped local families would join the awareness walk to show their support.

“Domestic Violence is an issue we need to keep talking about and this walk is a simple way to keep the conversation going in the community,” he said.

Originally published as Dalby’s first DV march to highlight its prevalence within the community