Hundreds gather to demand action on domestic violence

Daughter of murdered Hobart woman Rachel Wake joined hundreds rallying on Parliament Lawns to demand action against gender-based violence. Here’s what she said.

No More: National Rally Against Violence in Hobart. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

The daughter of murdered Hobart woman Rachel Wake has given her voice to an emotional demand to end an epidemic of domestic and gender-based violence in Australia.

The names of recent victims of alleged gender-based violence in Tasmania were read out to a Hobart crowd by Grassroots Action Network Tasmania community member Emily Bresnehan.

“We know here locally that women are not always safe. We know that we are not often safe within our own homes and with our own partners,” Ms Bresnehan said.

Romany Wake, 21, who witnessed the stabbing murder of her mother Rachel Wake in December 2021, provided an emotional conclusion to the rally.

Romany Wake, 21, daughter of Rachel Wake who was murdered on Christmas Day 2021 was invited to lead the closing chant at the “No More” rally. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

“I lost my mum Rachel Wake to domestic violence on Christmas Day 2021,” she told the 300-strong crowd.

“When our safety is under attack, what do we do?”

“Stand up fight back,” the crowd chanted back.

“Everyone’s story is so different, but they are all interlinked by one factor, family and domestic violence,” Ms Wake told the Sunday Tasmanian after the rally.

“It’s great to see that people are ready to make a change and start demanding action.”

Rachel Wake’s estranged husband, Darren Mark Wake, 61, pleaded guilty in December 2023 to her murder, two years after her death.

Rachel’s brother Matthew Coward said educating young boys was the “only way” to combat the issue.

Victim survivor of family violence Luisa Mejia speaking at the No More: National Rally Against Violence in Hobart. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Engender Equality volunteer and victim-survivor of family violence Luisa Mejia spoke to the crowd and said education was the key.

“I don’t mean telling someone ‘Do not kill women’, I mean educate yourself about the power dynamics of abusive relationships.

“Layer the intersectionality of this issue. How someone’s race, religion, background or socio-economic status affects them and makes them more vulnerable,” she said.

She thanked the many men in the crowd, and said the solution began with holding themselves and other men accountable.

“This is not just a women’s issue. Male violence is a men’s issue,” she said.

“It is men who have the power and the responsibility to fix the issue.”

Ms Mejia said the government must recognise the seriousness of this issue and “act immediately”.

“Take action and recognise this as a national emergency,” she said.

Palawa woman Rachel Dunn said Aboriginal women experienced “disproportionate” rates of violence against them.

“Three in five Aboriginal women have been assaulted by a man in one shape, form or another.

“But our stories go largely unnoticed because of who we are,” she said.

The crowd at the No More: National Rally Against Violence in Hobart. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Ms Dunn said she had worked “tirelessly to combat the pervasive forces that perpetuate violence against women”.

“Yet despite our best efforts, we continue to witness the devastating toll of this epidemic,” she said.

“It’s an epidemic of giant proportions.”

The demonstration was organised by Grassroots Action Network Tasmania as part of the national No More campaign to bring awareness to, and demand action on, the issue of violence against women.

Engender Equality will hold a candlelight vigil on Wednesday on Parliament Lawns to remember those who have lost their lives to family violence. The event starts at 5.30pm

Originally published as Hundreds gather to demand action on domestic violence