RALLY VOICE FOR VICTIMS
City protest takes stand against domestic violence
A SILENT rally will be held today in memory of China Crawford to raise awareness about domestic and family violence.
Cairns Regional Domestic Violence Service chief executive Amanda Lee-Ross said other Red Rose events would also be around the state at the same time for Ms Crawford, 32.
Ms Lee-Ross said the service supported 837 adults and 77 children in the last financial year.
Of that figure, 93 per cent of the adults were women and seven per cent were men. And of the children, 51 per cent were girls and 49 per cent boys.
“We also dealt with 565 referrals from the police as well,” Ms Lee-Ross said. “That for us was a 15 per cent increase from the previous year.”
In the 2014/15 financial year, the service dealt with 829 adults and 72 children, as well as 480 police referrals.
The rally was driven by the Red Rose Foundation and Ms Lee-Ross said CRDVS supported it.
“We stand silently for 30 minutes to respectfully draw attention to ... domestic violence,” Ms Lee-Ross said.
“It’s just a really respectful and simple way for people in the community to show their support in trying to end domestic and family violence … and that the person who lost their life was a valued member of society.”
The rally was being held on the same day as Ms Crawford’s funeral. “This is a way for those who don’t know her to show support,” Ms Lee-Ross said.
It also showed Ms Crawford’s family and friends that the community cared about the issue.
Ms Crawford’s body was found by work colleagues at her Cairns home on April 6.