Friday, June 4, 2021
COMMUNITY
Wet Tropic Times
Morning tea to raise community awareness of Domestic and Family Violence MARIA GIRGENTI INNISFAIL Youth & Family Care recently hosted a Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month morning tea at Queens Hotel’s function room. Staff from Goodstart Early Learning Charles Street, Mamu Health Service, Innisfail Hospital, Innisfail Police, Child Safety, the Commonwealth Bank, Workways and the Tully Support Centre attended. Each May, Queensland holds the Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month to raise community awareness of domestic and family violence and send a clear message that it will not be tolerated. Candles were lit and a minute’s silence observed to remember and honour those lives lost to domestic and family violence. Innisfail Domestic Violence Support
Service provides a range of assistance to domestic violence victims. This includes crisis accommodation for women and children escaping violent situations and where staff work to assist them to feel safe, supported, secure and equal. IYFC’s Women’s Safety Circle’s educational program promotes awareness of domestic and family violence, as well as strategies to keep those experiencing domestic violence and their families safe. The Better Changes for Our Future men’s program, provided in collaboration with Mamu Health Service, assists men to break the cycle of violence. IYFC also works with Innisfail State College to provide information regarding the cycle of violence and teaches young people healthy relationships through its Love Bites program.
Guest speaker at the morning tea was Sandra Keogh, CEO of the Cairns Regional Domestic Violence Service, who has worked in this sector for over 15 years. From May 2020 until May this year, 13 Queenslanders , including three in April, were killed due to domestic and family violence. On average, there are 77 Intimate Partner Homicides per year in Australia which means loved ones are being lost to domestic and family violence. Alarmingly, these figures do not include the countless number of women disabled, disfigured, and hospitalised due to their injuries. It also does not include those women who have taken their own lives. “Overwhelmingly, this kind of genderbased violence is perpetrated by men on women and children, compromising their health, dignity, security, and autonomy.”
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“This is a time to engage in robust discussions and explore how to shift the discourse and unpack unintended consequences.” “The question is how do we change the narrative and the lens from ‘why doesn’t she just leave?’ To ‘why doesn’t he just stop?’” “All of us have a responsibility to educate our young people and empower women,” advised Sandra Keogh. She implored the audience of how important it was for adult men to demonstrate strong leadership around the issue of violence against women. “To me, it seems imperative that when someone loses their life at the hands of someone they once loved and trusted, in a final and ultimate act of violence, that the world notices.” CommBank’s Innisfail Branch Manager, Margaret Milani, presented a $500 CommBank Staff Foundation Community Grant to IYFC in recognition of the important support services it provides to vulnerable youth and families in the local community.
Innisfail CommBank Manager, Margaret Milani, presented a $500 cheque to IYFC CEO, Anita Laksa, and DV support workers, Bronwyn Philpot and Weronika Mackinnon. Guest speaker, Sandra Keogh, CEO of Cairns Regional Domestic Violence Service, and Acting Sergeant Stephanie Whiteman (DV Coordinator Cassowary Coast), with Innisfail Youth & Family Care.
Historic State of Origin for Townsville PREMIER Annastacia Palaszczuk has welcomed the decision to host State of Origin in Townsville. The game on June 9, will be the first Origin ever held in a regional city. The Premier said delivering the game to Townsville is part of Queensland’s Economic Recovery Plan. “Our prayers have been answered,” the Premier said. “To bring the game we love to the fans who love it most in their own stadium is truly special. “If the ‘Queenslander’ chant puts the frighteners into the Blues, just wait till they hear it from North Queensland.” Operation Origin began last week when a COVID outbreak cast doubt on Melbourne being able to host Game One. Negotiations with the NRL began and the Premier said she is delighted they have come to fruition. “We saw what Magic Round did for Brisbane,” the Premier said.
“Hotels, pubs and restaurants were filled and cabbies reported their busiest weekend since COVID. “That’s what we expect to happen in and around Townsville as fans flock to this historic event.” Ten B-double trucks are already on standby to take temporary grandstands to Country Bank Stadium. An additional 1872 seats will take its capacity from 25,455 seats to 27,327, turning the stadium into a mini-Cauldron. Giant screens will be erected in Flinders Street to cope with the overflow with bands and entertainment for the entire family. The Premier thanked the NRL and its chairman Peter V’Landys for the decision. She noted it came as the Maroons announced its 20-man squad for Game One. “Origin unites us like nothing else does,” the Premier said. “Let’s paint the State Maroon and celebrate this great moment.”
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(07) 4408 8058
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