Courtney Hunter-Hebberman urges public to take a stand against domestic violence at Mount Barker event

A mother who spoke out as part of The Advertiser’s award-winning Dying Rose series says SA’s domestic violence shame is everyone’s responsibility.

The mother of Rose Hunter-Hebberman, whose death was investigated as part of the Advertiser’s Dying Rose podcast, has urged the public to take a stand against domestic violence.

Courtney Hunter-Hebberman said that she herself has in the past been the victim of domestic violence, which disproportionately affects Aboriginal women.

Courtney, a Peramangk and Ngarrindjeri woman, gave the Welcome to Country at the Mount Barker Walk Against Domestic Violence, an event held Wednesday to mark the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence.

She told a crowd of about 200 at Keith Stephenson Park that domestic violence was widespread within the community.

“It doesn’t discriminate, it affects every single one of us,” she said.

Zonta Mount Barker president Robyn Page, Ruby and Courtney Hunter-Hebberman (sister and mother of Rose), Minister Katrine Hildyard, Mandy Brown (grandmother of Rose) and local MP Dan Cregan at the march. Picture: Supplied

She said it was everyone’s responsibility to speak out against domestic and family violence.

She also spoke about her daughter Rose, who was 19 years old when she died in 2019.

“She was found dead on the floor of her boyfriend’s shed,” she said.

“And it started a journey for me that was life-changing. When you have that kind of level of grief, it changes your entire existence.”

Ms Hunter-Hebberman recounted meeting Advertiser editor Gemma Jones at an International Women’s Day event in 2022, where she spoke about Rose’s story.

“The theme was breaking the bias,” she said.

“And I thought: you know what, the bias actually isn’t breaking here for Aboriginal women.”

Rose Hunter-Hebberman featured in the Dying Rose podcast.

The Dying Rose podcast investigated how authorities reacted to the deaths of Rose and five other women – Lyla Nettle, Charli Powell, Shanarra Bright Campbell, Lasonya Dutton and Charlene Warrior.

Women and Prevention of Domestic Violence Minister Katrine Hildyard also spoke, telling those gathered that the South Australian community had been devastated by the recent deaths of women allegedly murdered by men known to them.

The bodies of four South Australian women were discovered in one week last month.

“One death is absolutely too many,” she said.

“This scourge is absolutely intolerable. This must stop, this must end. Enough is indeed enough.”

Ms Hildyard said that across Australia, including in South Australia, nearly 40 per cent of women have experienced physical or sexual violence by the age of 15.

“Every single one of us has a role to play in ending gendered violence,” she said.

“I absolutely applaud all of you for being here today and playing yours, for walking together against violence against women, for solidifying your commitment to end tyranny, coercion, control, and abuse.”

The event was also attended by local Kavel MP Dan Cregan and a number of Mount Barker councillors. It also aimed to raise awareness around The Haven, a local support service for women experiencing domestic violence.

Originally published as Courtney Hunter-Hebberman urges public to take a stand against domestic violence at Mount Barker event