Supporting the prevention of family violence

West Wimmera Shire Council supports the prevention of family violence and is working with local communities to support both Respect Victoria's Respect Women: Call it Out campaign and White Ribbon Day.

Respect Women: Call It Out

Respect Victoria’s Respect Women: ‘Call It Out’ campaign encourages Victorians to call out sexism, sexual harassment and disrespect towards women. This campaign aims to support the Victorian community in understanding what respect means, what it looks like, and how to put it into practice in their everyday lives.

Community members can view our 2020 virtual guest speaker and domestic violence survivor Simone O’Brien talk about her journey Here. 

(Please be advised this footage contains medical images that some viewers may find confronting. If children are viewing this footage parental guidance is recommended.)

Our gratitude and sincere thanks are extended to Simone O'Brien, Shane Podolski Vice-chair of Wimmera Committee Against Family Violence and Timothy Hobbs from Horsham Rural City Council for the production of Simone's story.

 

Another way people can show their support to the campaign is through shopping.

Council will supply towns in the shire with recyclable shopping bags that display the Respect Victoria: Call It Out logo.

The bags will be given out to shoppers at Edenhope Foodworks, Kaniva IGA and Goroke IGA.

Council also has a number of orange hats to give away, displaying the Respect Victoria logo. Residents can pick up a hat from the Kaniva or Edenhope shire offices and take a photo of them wearing it.

Photos can be emailed to communications@westwimmera.vic.gov.au over the 16 days of the campaign and they will be posted on Council’s website and Facebook page.

White Ribbon Day 2020

White Ribbon Day is on Friday, 20 November 2020. The day is an opportunity to bring people together – in person or online - to raise awareness and commit to action to prevent men's violence against women.

As part of the day, West Wimmera Shire is placing white ribbon symbols on fences throughout the shire. Residents are encouraged to tie a white ribbon to the symbols to show their support in preventing family violence.

At Goroke, the symbol will be on the front fence of the Goroke P-12 College and members of the community who would like to show their support will be able to collect a white ribbon from the Goroke IGA Supermarket.

At Edenhope, the symbol will be on the front fence of the Edenhope College. Ribbons can be collected from West Wimmera Shire Council’s Edenhope office.

At Apsley, the symbol will be on the playground fence on the Wimmera Highway. Ribbons can be collected from the Apsley Post Office.

At Kaniva, the symbol will be on the fence at Gary Mills Plumbing in Commercial Street. Ribbons can be collected from West Wimmera Shire Council’s Kaniva office.

At Harrow, the symbol will be on the fence at the Harrow Town Hall at 25 Blair Street. Ribbons can be collected from the Harrow Post Office.