Emma Pritchard

Members of the Grafton Country Women’s Association (CWA) branch are highlighting the need for ongoing action following the horrific rise in the number of Australian women who have tragically lost their lives at the hands of their intimate and former partners in recent months

as part of their campaign to help prevent gender-based violence, including domestic and family violence, during CWA Awareness Week 2024.

The annual event, which runs from September 1-7, provides CWA branches with the opportunity to raise awareness of issues which impact members of their local communities along with their own work and ongoing contributions.

In a statement forwarded to the Clarence Valley Independent last week, President of the Grafton CWA branch Janice Wilkinson said the presence of gender-based violence is an enormous issue that is not going away.

“This year, it seems like it’s just getting worse,” she said.

“Hardly a week goes by when we’re not hearing about the senseless and brutal death of another Australian woman.

“As an organisation that represents more than 8000 women across NSW and the ACT, we feel a responsibility to highlight this problem, and the need for more resources that can finally turn the current direction of these terrible statistics around.”

CWA State Social Issues Officer and member of the South Grafton CWA Evening Branch Leonie Fish said it is extremely important to advocate to raise awareness of the serious and alarming increases in the number of gender-based violence related incidents.

She also said it is important to remember that while women make up the majority of Australians who are impacted by gender-based violence, it can also affect men.

For this year’s campaign, the CWA of NSW is partnering with Domestic Violence NSW, the peak body for specialist domestic and family violence services in NSW, and The Men’s Table, an Australian non-profit community organisation that provides opportunities for men to meet and discuss issues and challenges within their lives. 

During CWA Awareness Week 2024, members of the Grafton CWA branch are standing alongside members of other CWA branches in calling for further changes to the NSW bail act to offer more protection to victims of gender-based violence and provide additional resources for women experiencing gender-based violence in rural and regional areas where isolation and a lack of services can make it more difficult for those seeking support and assistance.

The Grafton CWA branch will host a CWA Awareness Week 2024 Morning Tea on Thursday, September 5, at The Salvation Army Hall at 91 Oliver Street, Grafton, from 10am.