Today we gathered in Tesch Park to lament deaths by domestic violence, to remember and honour those recently killed and to call for strategies to that move beyond reduction to ELIMINATION of DFV in our communities. Thank you Speak Up Now and Red Rose Foundation for calling us together. Below is the text of Val France’s speech.
Today we are gathered here in Maleny as a sign of solidarity for the women and children, who have lost their lives to domestic and family violence murder.
It is now day 230 of 2023 and to date there have already been 35 confirmed deaths of women and 10 confirmed deaths of children through domestic violence, within Australia this year.
Police are called out to more than 500 serious DV incidences every day. DV murders are up 21% from this time last year and so far, this year more than 2800 charges of non-lethal strangulation have been recorded by police.
When we think about the reality of these statistics, we have the right to be very angry but today is a peaceful rally.
So, I want to especially thank you all for gathering here today at such short notice for this first combined red rose foundation and speak up now – stop domestic and family violence rally in Maleny, so that together we can mourn and remember the lives of all these women and children and all victims of domestic and family violence regardless of gender.
We would also like to specifically honour and remember those Queensland women and children who have lost their lives through domestic violence since the last red rose rally was held in May this year.
Please join me as:
> We give tribute and remember the unnamed 74-year-old female who lost her life on July 16th in Kawana Central Queensland – her husband has been charged with her murder.
> We mourn the loss of Gipsy Satterley – aged 25 – who was allegedly murdered by her ex-partner on 21st July at Federal on the Sunshine Coast in a terrible car incident.
> We also remember the two innocent people caught up in this same incident – Jessica Townley aged 38 and Terry Bishop aged 65.
> And we stand together and mourn the loss of Tayla Cox – aged 30 and her 11-week-old daughter Murphy – who were both viciously murdered on the 8th of August in Rockhampton allegedly by her husband.
> Finally, we remember Drew Douglas aged 31 who was stabbed to death just two days ago in Sydney allegedly by her 35-year-old male partner. Drew had given birth just one month ago to her fourth child. Her other three children are aged 1, 11 and 12. Four young children who have now lost their mother in a terrible act of violence.
Please hold a placard up high towards the passing traffic or hold a red rose prominently at arm’s length, while we stand for a minutes silence and show our solidarity against these terrible deaths. We also remember all those people affected by losing someone they know.
After our minute’s silence I’d like you to slowly make your way to the table and place your rose on the white tablecloth as a tribute to these women and children.
