Every little bit counts for cause
A Wimmera advocacy group says ongoing community support is crucial in raising awareness of domestic violence.
Horsham domestic violence survivor Simone O’brien donated $300 via G.J. Gardner Homes Ararat, Horsham and Hamilton group’s ‘Community Growth’ project to Wimmera Committee Against Family Violence late last month.
The project allows G.J Gardner Homes customers to direct a portion of their building contract to charities and groups in the area.
Wimmera Committee Against Family Violence vice-chair Shane Podolski said community support was crucial for the organisation to continue its advocacy work.
The committee is made up of former Wimmera White Ribbon members. The new committee formed late last year after the collapse of national organisation, White Ribbon Australia.
“These donations mean we can keep going – every little bit helps,” Mr Podolski said.
“We can strive to do our best to help victims of domestic violence and it means this time next year we’ll still be here and be a voice.”
Mr Podolski said the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted a greater need to raise awareness.
“The cases of domestic violence have gone through the roof during this time,” he said.
“No woman deserves to be treated like that. There’s been talk throughout COVID-19 that we need a roadmap out of the pandemic, but to me, I believe we need a roadmap to stop domestic violence.”
Mr Podolski said a key aim of the committee was to help educate people on how to identify and call out domestic violence.
“The biggest thing we’re trying to do is change the mentality of youth,” he said.
“Young people need to know they can reach out and get help themselves.”
Mr Podolski urged people who were or knew someone who was experiencing domestic violence to call police.
“Just pick up the phone and call the police, they’re trained and qualified to deal with it,” he said.
“The behaviours we walk past are the behaviours that we accept – and domestic violence is not acceptable.”
Horsham G.J. Gardner Homes new homes consultant Alyssa Heard said the money was going towards a worthy cause.
“I think it’s really good to be able to know this cause is being supported around here,” she said.
“I feel like it’s still a bit of a taboo subject and I think it’s hard to get support when you’re in that situation, so it’s amazing we can get behind that.”