Emma Pritchard

Close to 100 Clarence Valley residents including local high school students joined members of Grafton Midday Rotary and officers attached to the Coffs/Clarence Police District on December 1, as they walked from Memorial Park in Grafton across the Clarence River to South Grafton and back again to raise community awareness of family and domestic violence as part of the internationally recognised campaign 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence, which runs until December 10.

Dressed in colourful shirts and holding banners and handwritten signs, many stating one word ‘No’ up high, participants had a clear message to share – they don’t want to see or experience family or domestic violence within the Clarence Valley community.

President of Grafton Midday Rotary Mark Thompson said it was fantastic to see so many people attend the event, adding every step taken helped to raise further awareness of the importance of the campaign.

“It was a very positive event,” he said.

“This is the type of community activity which helps to educate people and start conversations.

“Grafton Midday Rotarian Patty Hewitt was speaking with a member of the public who asked, ‘what would this walk do to raise awareness of family and domestic violence’, and she pointed out that they were talking about the topic.

“By encouraging people to engage in conversations and to ask questions, they’re they first steps towards raising awareness.”

A spokesperson for Clarence River Domestic and Family Violence Services (CRDFVS) said the Clarence Valley ranks in the top three locations in NSW for reported domestic violence assaults and Apprehended Violence Orders (AVO) applications, and its important the community works together to address the issue.

The spokesperson also revealed the Coffs/Clarence district has experienced a huge increase, upwards of 35 percent, in reports within 2022/23, according to the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR), and said it was great to see so many people gather together on the weekend to share the message that domestic and family violence is not to be tolerated, describing it as a resounding call to action.

The Clarence Valley Independent will publish further information relating to the increase in reports in upcoming editions, along with other community events aimed at raising awareness of family and domestic violence, and local support services available to residents.

• A free community barbecue will be held in the carpark at the Clarence Regional Library in Grafton between 6:30-9am on December 8 to raise further awareness of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence campaign.