White Ribbon March sees hundreds unite to stop family and domestic violence

Hundreds of men, women and children marched through the streets of Bunbury to show solidarity in putting an end to family and domestic violence. The 2024 White Ribbon Day Bunbury March was held on Friday morning, with hundreds walking the streets to support the cause as part of the 16 Days In WA campaign to stop domestic and family violence. Participants met at the Bunbury Regional Art Gallery, where they donned white ribbons and marched towards the open space along Stephen Street, where a ceremony was held. The crowd heard testimonials from emergency service workers and personnel who saw first-hand the damage domestic and family violence caused in society. South West Family and Domestic Violence Response Team member Huia Gibbs spoke of the importance of wiping out attitudes leading to violence. “It is important to recognise that not all disrespect leads to violence, but all violence certainly starts with disrespect,” she said. “It is up to everyone to ensure we are fanning out the flame of disrespect that burns out women and children.” Part of the focal point of the ceremony was a door, which on one side featured depictions of physical violence and on the other side the lesser-known elements of domestic violence such as coercive control. Zonta Club Bunbury chair Tyril Houghton said she applauded the State Government’s recent campaign to educate people about coercive control, and called on more people to spread awareness. “I take my hat off to our State Government who’s now starting to legislate,” she said. “It is a problem. It’s about emotional, psychological, financial abuse, where children and women are walking on eggshells within a home because they cannot cope with a power-hungry person. “We just want to change attitudes. It’s not OK to use your power to abuse your family. It isn’t, and it needs to stop.” A minute of silence was held to remember the 86 women who have been killed by family and domestic violence this year, with wreaths laid to honour them. Brock Reid, 16, and Max Brooks, 16, joined the march as a way to get younger men behind the cause and show solidarity. “We’re definitely trying to raise a lot more awareness for it, trying to educate us younger men in schools, so they can learn how to be better towards women,” Brock said. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)