O’brien inspires Hinch during visit
Controversial journalist and broadcaster turned politician Derryn Hinch has labelled Horsham domestic violence survivor Simone O’brien ‘inspirational’ during a visit to the Wimmera.
Senator Hinch formed his own political party, the Derryn Hinch Justice Party, in 2015 with a platform for ‘equality and justice for all’ and was elected to the Senate in 2016.
He is a strong supporter of domestic violence law reform and visited the region to learn more about the issue in rural and regional areas.
While in Horsham he met with Mrs O’brien as well as representatives of the Wimmera White Ribbon Committee and other support agencies.
Mrs O’brien is lucky to be alive after her ex-fiance attacked her with a baseball bat in front of two of her three children in 2012.
She joined White Ribbon – Australia’s national campaign to prevent men’s violence against women – in 2015 as part of her healing process.
She has gone on to become a wellknown anti-domestic violence advocate across the country.
Senator Hinch was full of praise for Mrs O’brien, saying she had fire in her belly and a never-give-up attitude.
“I’ve been a journalist for many decades – I’ve been around a long, long time – and this is one of the bravest women I have ever met in my life,” he said.
“She inspires people and I can’t tell you how impressed I am with what she does and has done.”
Mrs O’brien said she hoped sharing her story helped others speak up and seek help.
“I’m not doing it for myself, I’m doing it for women and children around Australia, to let them know not to give up in life,” she said.
“We’ve got so much mental depression going around and if I can put a limelight on domestic violence and go from a negative to a positive, that’s what I want to do. I just want to help that next person violence.”
Mrs O’brien said spending oneon-one time with Senator Hinch was amazing.
“The things he was saying about me blew me away a little bit,” she said.
“He is really keen to listen to what people have to say.”
Mrs O’brien said the meeting with the White Ribbon committee and associated to stop domestic groups also went well.
“Obviously Senator Hinch is very knowledgeable about domestic violence issues,” she said.
“Although he realises there are a lot of differences between the city and the country, he was gobsmacked to find out how some things are up here.”
Mrs O’brien said discussions about a need for more targeted services, including housing, were on the agenda. “He wants to raise awareness and get more support for country towns,” she said.
“I found out that the next day he contacted White Ribbon head office to take further action. That’s definitely a positive.”
Dubbed, the ‘Human Headline’, Senator Hinch is well known for fighting for victims of violent crimes and has pushed for a public national sex offender registry.
His efforts to name and shame offenders has resulted in three convictions for contempt of court, leading to two prison sentences and a stint under house arrest.
During his two-day visit to the Wimmera, Senator Hinch took an opportunity to talk to community members during a visit to Horsham Plaza and a walk through the city’s central business district.
He also visited Horsham RSL and met with staff and students for a question and answer session at Ararat’s Marian College.
On his way back to Melbourne, Senator Hinch visited Langi Kal Kal prison near Beaufort, where he spent the majority of a 50-day sentence in 2014.
“I’ve been a journalist for many decades – I’ve been around a long, long time – and this is one of the bravest women I have ever met in my life” – Derryn Hinch