Media Release
On Thursday 25th November, The International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women,
the Restore Our Refuge Manning Valley Players, held a moving ceremony for the Women who have lost their lives to male violence during this past year, and to mark the beginning of 16daysofactivism 2021.
An integral part of that simple memorial ceremony was the presence of those who are no longer with us.
Ghosts. Reminders. A smudge. An echo. That nagging feeling that something is missing.
Call them what you will, those pale figures joined with the living that day, to honour the 36 women who lost their lives to male rage and entitlement in 2021 in Australia.
And those pale figures are gathering again.
On Saturday December 4th in Isabella St, Wingham at 11.30am.
The fact that it is election day for all local communities in NSW is no coincidence.
These ghosts, these echoes of a woman lost and families traumatised, are visual reminders that Domestic Violence lives in all our communities and that is something we must all face and work towards addressing.
On Friday December 10th in Albert St, Taree, at 11.00am
These apparitions will gather once more and finally, on the last day of the 16daysofactivism, December 10th, the International Day of Human Rights, on the grounds of the Taree Court House.
A Court house is a community’s portal to justice. Only through the systems and procedures developed and practiced by a court, can anyone achieve what society deems to be Justice.
Those reminders that something was taken too soon by mere anger, will gather on the lawns of the court house.
They go there because that is where we are all told to go, to find justice.
Over the last 2 years particularly, in Australia, proud, gracious, articulate, women have voiced their stories and expressed their truths to power yet, despite the strength of their voices, they have been sidelined, overlooked and shouted down.
Because of this, we, The Restore Our Refuge, Manning Valley Players, have chosen silence to signify our performances and we thank you for your focus and attention.
Media release,Ghosts-16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based violence
Rosie`s speech 2021 Honouring Murdered Women Variation Leonie Speech.docx 2021 Cenotaph