Bright reminder raises awareness of domestic viole

Published: 26 June 2020. (Note: information was correct at date of publication but may have since been changed or superseded.)

A simple red park bench has been installed in a Westcourt park as part of a national initiative to raise awareness about the problem of domestic and family violence.

The Red Bench Project is an initiative of the Red Rose Foundation and serves as a bright and permanent reminder that domestic violence still exists within our community.

Cairns Mayor Bob Manning said the bench, installed in Harold Falge Park, was a permanent reminder that domestic and family violence was never acceptable.

“The bench signifies the support that council has for projects like this that bring domestic and family violence to light,” Cr Manning said.

“It is not a coincidence that we chose Harold Falge Park – Harold was a renowned advocate for causes like this and will always be remembered for his work with the disadvantaged youth in the Cairns.

“In Australia one-in-six women and one-in-sixteen men will experience physical or sexual abuse at the hands of their partner.

“This bench will be a place to sit and have a conversation about how we as community can change the ending to domestic violence. There is a plaque on each red bench and it reads ‘Domestic Violence: Let’s Change The Ending’, we all have a part to play in saying that domestic and family violence is not okay.”

The red bench is the second to be installed in the Cairns region. The first was installed at Access Cairns Community Housing on Anderson Street, Manunda in May this year.

The Red Rose Foundation is a national not for profit charity who works to end domestic violence across our communities. Their motto is to Change The Ending.

The Foundation launched the Red Bench Project as a way to build to build a permanent reminder that domestic violence occurs within all of our communities.

The presence of a Red Bench in a public location aims to raise public awareness and provide an opportunity for this important issue to remain visible. A place to sit and have a conversation about how we as community can change the ending to domestic violence.