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Tuesday 14 April 2020
5974 9000 or email: team@mpnews.com.au www.mpnews.com.au Cheers: Sandra and Graeme Pimlott raise a toast to a unique Easter and are joined by neighbours and other residents of their apartment block in Mornington, including Billy and Irene Adams, Deb DeBelle and Richard and Robyn Thorpe. Picture: Gary Sissons
Here’s to Easter, from a distance IT was pre-Easter drinks in the time of the coronavirus last Thursday (9 April) for a community of apartment dwellers in Mornington. Residents of the former Sisters of Mercy Convent, in Tanti Avenue, toasted and cheered each other from their balconies. John Scott said the “coming out” was organised by Helen Begg, who has lived in the heritage listed building for the past 11 years. “She arranged for us to come out onto our balconies for a drink and a chat, at a distance, of course,” Mr Scott said. “Easter to some is church or a holiday break with family, but this year we’re all at home.” Mr Scott said the former convent provided “a very happy environment” with residents regularly getting together for social drinks, but never one quite like Easter 2020.
Fears of rise in family violence Stephen Taylor steve@mpnews.com.au A DROMANA woman who has been volunteering as a family violence victim’ advocate for the past three years fears enforced isolation because of the COVID-19 pandemic may lead to an increase in abuse. Geraldine Bilston said isolated living, less contact with people outside their homes, financial pressures and unforeseen stresses could mean “we
are now bracing for an increase in domestic violence on the Mornington Peninsula”. As a survivor of domestic violence who fled with her daughter from a “man we should have been able to trust and feel safe with”, Ms Bilston said she experienced many forms of family violence. “He ran us off the road in his car a day after I escaped the relationship,” she said. “Before I left I was physically assaulted and abused after enduring years of emotional abuse, which had been es-
calating during our relationship.” Her attacker was initially charged with assault causing serious harm, several breaches of an intervention order, and conduct endangering lives. “However, his lawyer got a plea deal with the police prosecutor where he pleaded guilty and the charges were downgraded to general assault, one charge of persistently breaching an IVO, and dangerous driving,” she said. Through her role as an advocate, Ms Bilston said many women were messaging her and disclosing emotional
abuse and controlling behaviours occurring within their relationships. “As we move further and further into isolation, with heightened stress and tension, I worry about how these abusive partners and situations are going to escalate,” she said. Ms Bilston said that as a community “we have to stay physically distanced [but] we should remain socially connected to one another – particularly with those we know who are vulnerable, including people we care for that we know or suspect may be experienc-
ing forms of family violence”. “This includes our family, friends and our neighbours. Stay vigilant, stay in contact via telephone/social media/ the internet, and check in regularly with these people,” she said. Recent statistics show an increase of 75 per cent of Google searches on domestic violence in NSW. “There are several articles floating around about this statistic,” she said. “Unfortunately, I have not seen anything released on Victorian statistics as yet.” Continued Page 7
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