HUNDREDS RALLY FOR SLAIN COAST WOMEN
HUNDREDS of domestic violence survivors and allies gathered at rallies around Queensland on Friday to mourn two Gold Coast women allegedly murdered by their partners.
Dressed in black and each armed with a single red rose, mourners gathered on the Gold Coast, Brisbane, Cairns, Townsville, Mackay and Ipswich, bowing their heads in a minute silence to pay their respects to Kelly Wilkinson and Lordy Ramadan, and to rail against a system leaders say “failed” them.
Speaking at the Domestic Violence corner at Norm Rix Park in Labrador – not far from the Arundel backyard where Ms Wilkinson was allegedly set alight by her estranged husband Brian Johnston – Currumbin MP Laura Gerber issued a furious call for action.
“On average, one woman a week dies from domestic violence in Australia,” she said.
“On average they have reached out to police or a service 27 times before they lose their lives.
“That’s 27 times a service has had an opportunity to save them … and the system has failed them.
“The time for talk is done.” Among the crowd was the mother of Tara Brown, who was killed by her ex-partner in 2015.
A coronial investigation this year found police failed to launch a proper investigation after Ms Brown approached officers about a domestic violence protection order, five days before her death.
Gold Coast Centre Against Sexual Violence director Di Macleod expressed her “outrage” that another two women had died.
“Tragically we were here just last month … now another two Gold Coast women (have died),” Ms Macleod said.
“Kelly Wilkinson and Lordy Ramadan were real people with hopes and dreams who had a right to safe.
“Sadly, both were allegedly killed by someone close to them who felt they had the right to do so.
“We need to say their names. We need to remember them by how they died, not by how they lived their lives.”
Ms Ramadan, 48, was found dead inside a furniture chest at the Sapphire at the Broadwater apartment complex at Labrador on Friday morning. The body of her partner of about a decade, and carer, Craig Bouma, 53, was also found in the unit after Ms Ramadan’s concerned family raised the alarm.
Ms Macleod said while it was all “well and good” to be moved to tears by these tragedies, action was needed.
“We have made real inroads, but it’s hard to stand back and pat ourselves on the back when women and children are still dying,” she said.
“Kelly is the 10th woman to die (from domestic violence) this year and Lordy is the 11th. But they are not just statistics or victims, they are real people. Their deaths cannot be in vain.”
Gaven MP Meaghan Scanlon said the establishment of a new domestic violence taskforce would improve the system and hold perpetrators to account. “We know the real consequences of a system that lets people down,” she said.