Community
21 March, 2025
Sea of green for women killed by violence
A COLD and foggy morning did not deter 53 walkers as they took part in a special walk in honour of women killed by male violence last Friday.
Walkers gathered at Wombeech Puyuun Reconciliation Park at around 7.30am last Friday morning, where they were each given a card with the name of a woman killed by male violence to walk in honour of.
Organiser Zoe Wilkinson spoke before the walk began, sharing statistics and facts about male violence as well as the importance of walking for unnamed women such as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women.
Ms Wilkinson said she found the participation numbers “amazing”.
“I wasn’t expecting this many people to come, and I feel so happy and so grateful that so many people came,” she said.
“It’s nice to see women, men, kids, older people – all different types of people.”
Many of those who participated in the walk wore something green, the International Women’s Day colour of hope, which stood out against the fog.
The group, consisting primarily of women but with men and children also walking, walked from Wombeech Puyuun Reconciliation Park along McArthur Street, Brooke Street, Scott Street, and down the Manifold Street avenue to Excuse Me Katie’s.
The cards worn during the walk were put together on a whiteboard for a display while walkers enjoyed a cup of coffee a cookie and a conversation.
Ms Wilkinson said she wanted to highlight the importance of educating others about the causes of male violence against women, contributing factors, and ways it can be prevented.
“I feel like the main thing I want people to take away is that the women who are killed by male violence are people – and they have their own lives, their own families, and their own hopes and dreams,” she said.
“That’s what’s being lost by male violence.
“This is not just a number – tthese are all individual people with lives to live.”
Ms Wilkinson extended her gratitude to everyone who supported the event, from those who participated to those who gave their support behind the scenes.
“I’d like to say a massive thank you to Ann Cunningham from GRIT Legal for all her help organizing it and supporting it,” she said.
“I honestly couldn’t have put on the event without Ann.
“I also want to say thank you to Kate Kent from Excuse Me Katie’s for hosting it and all of the local businesses who donated prizes for the raffle.”
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