West Gippsland Arts Centre to light up orange

Published on 22 November 2023

The West Gippsland Arts Centre will light up orange again this year to acknowledge the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign, which will commence on Saturday 25 November.

The 16 Days of Activism is a national movement led by UN Women, where communities all over the world are encouraged to help further prevent and eliminate violence against women and girls.

A series of local events will be held in Gippsland, hosted by various partners and supported by Gippsland Women’s Health as part of the Let’s Chat Gippsland Campaign. Visit www.16daysgippsland.com.au for more information on these.

Baw Baw Shire Mayor Cr Annemarie McCabe said that the campaign was the perfect opportunity to ensure broader community engagement and awareness on an issue that needs to be eradicated entirely.

“Unfortunately, Gippsland consistently has some of Victoria’s highest rates of intimate partner and family violence,” Cr McCabe said.

“Baw Baw Shire is committed to creating a community that is violence free and where everyone feels safe and equal.”

“As we plan for the future, we continue to put a greater emphasis on creating more inclusive spaces, which can be seen through our Community Vision and Council Plan 2021-25, as well as our Draft Youth Strategy, which is currently on exhibition for feedback via Baw Baw Connect.”

Cr McCabe added that earlier in the year Council partnered with Gippsland Women’s Health and the Safe Steps Family Violence Response Centre to raise awareness of the high levels of domestic violence in the community. As part of this, a candlelit vigil was held at the Arts Centre to acknowledge the lives lost due to domestic violence.

Next year, Council looks forward to supporting an exhibition at the West Gippsland Arts Centre by local artist Keira Sloetjes, which will focus on the issue of domestic violence, family violence and sexual assault. The exhibition will run throughout October, and Council will release further details on this next year. 

For more information on the broader 16 Days of Activism campaign, visit www.respectvictoria.vic.gov.au.