Kelly O’Regan of Alexandra Hills is one of the lucky ones.
This year she lit a candle for herself, as a survivor of domestic abuse and as a champion for its eradication.
The event was a candle lighting vigil, held on May 3 at the Raby Bay harbour park, following a small procession of women walking from Kyling Corner in a show of solidarity.
“I am here to show people like me not to give up, not to be silent and for them to know that help is at hand,” Ms O’Regan said.
Sue and Lloyd Clarke of Small Steps 4 Hannah said awareness and education was needed for people to have respectful relationships.
“There are coercive control laws and people need to have an understanding of what they can do,” Mr Clarke said.
“There is a pattern of behaviour such as not going with friends, being isolated, being told what to wear, who to talk to, stalking, financial abuse and gas lighting.
“It’s a gradual and insidious process and 90 per cent of cases end in homicide. The community needs to recognise these red flags and keep these conversations going.”
In giving the salute to country, elder Norm Enoch said domestic violence was ‘predictable and preventable’.
“Awareness, education, counselling and prevention is needed,” he said.
Chief operations officer of Redland Centre for Women and Co at Cleveland Rebecca Maurer said the goal was to “put ourselves out of a job”.
“We stand shoulder to shoulder in solidarity with these women,” she said.
Mayor Karen Williams said domestic violence statistics could be confronting, with one person killed by a current or former partner each week.
“Closer to home, Redlands Coast accounts for around four per cent of all domestic and family violence protection orders applied for across Queensland – that’s more than 600 a year and about 12 each week,” she said.
A major fundraiser for the prevention of domestic violence is Dinner en Rouge, being held at Sheldon on May 27.
The event will be attended by Sue and Lloyd Clarke, whose daughter Hannah and three grandchildren were killed in 2020.
Tickets are $175 each or $1700 for a table of 10 (including GST). Visit redland.qld.gov.au.
