Supporters gathered at Lillydale Lake on Thursday 27 November for the third annual Walk Against Family Violence.
Aligned with the international 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence and run by the Boorndawan Willam Aboriginal Healing Service (BWAHS), a great turnout gathered for the walk just as the rain cleared and the sun started shining.
Aunty Julie Coombes started the day’s proceedings with a Welcome to Country and also said honoured to be there as a First Nations woman and as a family violence advocate.
“We stand as one in solidarity with victim-survivors, this walk is not only about raising awareness, it is about building a community that is safe for all, where everyone is treated equally and with respect,” she said.
“Violence can be prevented if we choose to change the culture, educate mindsets and shift the attitudes and behaviours that allow it to continue, we need advocacy for stronger laws which can help ensure the person choosing violence is held accountable to the survivors, to the community and to themselves, and this includes programs to affect permanent positive changes.
“Today is a time to put our thinking caps on and look into the gaps we have in our systems and how what we can do for better outcomes, the Walk Against Family Violence is a significant event for us all as we continue striving for a Victoria and Australia free from family violence.”
A smoking ceremony was next, started by Chris Hume, who invited elders to smoke themselves before all attendees took the time to waft themselves with smoke.
Mr Hume said as a young man himself, he had been both a victim and a perpetrator of family violence.
“It all came around from disconnecting myself from culture, disconnecting myself from community… I was looking for connection and belonging and I found it with drugs and alcohol, and unfortunately that was no way to fix the issues that was going on within my body, my soul and my head,” he said.
“The connection that brought me back to who I am today has been a good 10, 15 years now, where I’ve actually brought myself back to the point where I’m able to be a role model in community, I understand the way we speak to people, the way we speak to our family, the way we speak to our children, the way we speak to our loved ones, can be hard sometimes because we got these emotions going on in our head and sometimes we speak those words that we don’t mean to speak.
“We need to fix ourselves as Aboriginal men to be strong role models for our young children, when we’ve got strong men in community, we have strong families, once we’ve got strong families in community, we will have a strong community.”
MC for the event Steve led the walk around the lake, with periodic stops to discuss the issue of gender-based and family violence and to invite speakers from local groups and organisations.
Steve said this year’s campaign is focused on one of the fastest-growing forms of abuse, which is digital violence against women and girls, including anything from a post on Facebook to using AI technology to degrade women.
“When I was a school kid, I thought violence was just an act in the school ground when it became fisticuffs, when it ended up being violent physically, but it can be any controlling behaviour,” he said.
“I’m a father and I know what it is to control your children and to do it right and to do it wrong, to get it right, I’ve got a loving wife and I’m blessed to have a beautiful wife that I have not always treated well, so I’ve been a perpetrator of it and I’ve also seen growing up how it’s been showcased to me and I’ve exampled that.
“I’ve had to learn to name violence more than just being a physical act, I’ve had to learn that anyone who suffers intimidation in my presence is an act of violence… and digital violence is also one that is very real for many, many people.”
Alongside community members were representatives from St John’s Ambulance, Ngwala Willumbong, BWAHS, Victorian Aboriginal Child and Community Agency, Anglicare, Women’s Health East, Eastern Health, Eastern Community Legal Centre, Oonah Aboriginal Health and Community Services, Yarra Valley Water, Migrant Information Centre, FVREE and Access Health and Community were among the attendees.
The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence runs annually from 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, to 10 December, Human Rights Day. 2025 also marks the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, a resolution adopted by the United Nations at the end of the Fourth World Conference on Women on 15 September 1995, a progressive plan to support the rights of women and girls which was signed by 189 countries.
