The Gannawarra calls out family violence

Published on 22 November 2021

Gannawarra Shire Council, Northern District Community Health and other local health and community service agencies will unite this November and December to call out any form of family violence.

Now in its fifth year, the Gannawarra Goes Orange campaign will coincide with the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, and will run from Thursday, 25 November to Friday, 10 December.

The family violence rate across Gannawarra is twice the Victorian average. In the vast majority of cases, women are the victims of family violence and a concerning number of incidents have a child, or children, recorded as a witness.

“There is no place for any form of violence in our Gannawarra communities, be it physical, emotional, financial or sexual abuse,” Council Chief Executive Officer, Tom O’Reilly said.

“Council will continue to work in partnership to reduce the prevalence of family violence and ensure that our communities are safe places for all.”

“The 2021 Gannawarra Goes Orange campaign aims to build on the work undertaken to raise the awareness of family violence and its impact on rural communities, with events planned across the 16 days.”

In what has become a highlight of the campaign, the Kerang Council Building will be lit up with orange lighting between 25 November and 10 December, with a Gannawarra Says No to Family Violence banner to be displayed from the historic building’s balcony.

The Gannawarra Library Service will host special Story Time sessions at the Cohuna Library on Tuesday, 30 November at 10.30am and Kerang’s Sir John Gorton Library on Thursday, 2 December at 10.30am.

Local schools are involved in a poster competition, supermarkets across the Gannawarra will have branded re-useable bags available, and Northern District Community Health will coordinate activities to promote gender equality and respectful relationships.

This year’s campaign will also feature online events, with Women’s Health Loddon Mallee hosting free workshops focusing on themes relating to bystander action, gender equality and respect.

“Individuals and organisations are also encouraged to support the campaign by sharing via social media what respect means to them, hosting a morning tea to raise awareness of gender-based violence or go for a walk and wear orange to raise the awareness of family violence,” Mr O’Reilly said.

For more information, including ideas for events you can host during the Gannawarra Goes Orange campaign, please visit www.gsc.vic.gov.au/orange  

The Gannawarra Goes Orange campaign is supported by Gannawarra Shire Council, Northern District Community Health, Kerang District Health, Cohuna District Hospital, Mallee District Aboriginal Service, Victoria Police, and the Southern Mallee Primary Care Partnership.

If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence, please phone 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732.