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Warragul & Baw Baw
Citizen
TWICE MONTHLY // FRIDAY 27 FEBRUARY 2015
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HOW VICROADS OVERCAME UNDERPASS' BOTTOMLESS PIT: P3
Domestic violence an issue for all By Saúl A. Zavarce L SaulZavarce
Drouin blossoms Kayla Eshuis watches the Ficifolia Festival fireworks in Drouin. Photos: William PJ Kulich
By Jack Lacy L jack_m_lacy
RETAILERS in Drouin have repor ted mixed but strong results from this month's "I love Drouin"them ed Ficifolia Festival. Some businesses reported a gre ater number of patrons and income from the event compared to prev ious years' festivals, while others had a decline in patronage due to the weather. Proprietor of the French Pear Café Andrew Dumergue was plea sed with the business his café gen erated from the festival. "The poor weather didn't seem to have any effect on business at all, only condensed it," he told the War ragul & Baw Baw Citizen. "Sales increased over the durat ion of the event. "It's [the café's] third year doing Ficifolia, which is a marvellous event. Us being in the food and
Park reopened in Trafalgar Page 5
coffee industry, the event provides us with a great chance to market our business.” While Mr Dumergue's business pulled more customers at this year's festival, Drouin Gourmet Café man ager Trudy Tambasis said her bus iness' income was less than that from previous festivals. "The number of customers we had were slightly down from last year, due to the rain forecast, which drove people away," Ms Tambasis said. The Drouin Business Group is responsible for coordinating the Ficifolia Festival and over the years has developed a strong relationship with the festival's committee. Group president Helen Taylor said retailers which extended their business hours experienced a gre ater number of sales. "The stores that were open later in the day tended to fair better with Story continues on Page 4 ►
Lions Club members take part in the Ficifolia Festival parade. More photos from the festival on Page 6 ►
AUSTRALIA'S family violence epid emic has become the most salient public safety issue in the country. Victoria's royal commission into family violence was launched on Monday with the aim of improving violence prevention, early interven tion and support for victims, and perpetrator accountability. The commission will hear from police, legal professionals and serv ice providers on how to prevent fa mily violence and better integrate systems. The often quoted fact that one woman dies every week from domestic violence in Australia has doubled in the first seven weeks of 2015 — 14 women have died from incidents of family violence. Baw Baw saw an increase from 157 reported family violence assau lts between October 2012 and Sept ember 2013 to 226 cases in the October 2013 to September 2014 period. That is an increase of 69 reported offences — a 44 per cent growth in the community. Leading Senior Constable Bren dan Clarke told the Warragul & Baw Baw Citizen "we've certainly seen an increase of reporting, but overall it is estimated that around 50 per cent of family violence goes unreported across the board." "I have also seen personally an increase in family violence linked with the usage of [the drug] ice." Mr Clarke stated Victoria Police had a zero tolerance policy for fam ily violence and police services have generally good and adequate pow ers to deal with cases. "We've got good power to act, but we work in conjunction with service providers and the community beca use the community has to get on board as well," Mr Clarke said. Housing affordability has been a key bottleneck to safety for those facing violence within the home. A woman at high risk of being subject to domestic violence could have to wait up to two years for housing. Women are often put up in mot els which are prebooked three mo nths in advance by service providers due to a lack of affordable housing. Story continues on Page 2 ►