Locals say NO MORE

More than 200 people marched down the main street on Friday in support of the NO MORE campaign

Posted: Friday, 24 November 2017

Locals of Tennant Creek joined together this morning for a peaceful march in support of the NO MORE Family Violence campaign. 

Organised by CatholicCare NT (Tennant Creek) and chaired by Elliot McAdam, residents and staff from Barkly Regional Council, Anyinginyi Aboriginal Corporation, Country Women's Association, Barkly Work Camp, Tennant Creek Women's Refuge, the NT Police, AFL NT, Julalikari, Barkly Regional Arts, and the Tennant Creek High School all took part in the march with a police escort at the front. 

With impassioned speeches and a beautiful poem on the stark reality of domestic violence, listeners were left in no doubt as to duty of the community, leaders and individuals to combat domestic violence.

Mayor Steve Edgington was impressed with how many people had turned up to the march to demonstrate NO MORE and that 'enough is enough'. 

However, he stressed that recent statistics, which show a 40% increase in domestic violence related assaults in the Barkly in the last 12 months, highlight a problem that is ongoing and needs to be addressed from all sections of the community.

“The Barkly Regional Council is committed to partnering with CatholicCare NT and the NO MORE Campaign to reduce family and domestic violence throughout Tennant Creek and the entire Barkly region,” Mayor Edgington said.  

“We’ve had enough of our community being destroyed by violence, so by forming this partnership we can work together to end family violence in the Barkly region. 

“Our Council is very pleased to be incorporating a Domestic Violence Action Plan throughout the organisation, as it’s our job in the community to lead by example and do everything that we can to reduce violence in our community,” he said. 

Council, the NO MORE Campaign and the Tennant and District Times will also launch ‘The Spirit of the Barkly Award’, which will recognise football players and others from across the Barkly region who demonstrate ways to reduce violence on and off the field. 

Council also plans to erect NO MORE signage at Purkiss Reserve and in seven regional communities that declare their intention to eradicate family violence from the Barkly.