Ballina News

Wave of advocacy against domestic and family violence that started in Ballina

Published

4 months ago

15 May 2024

Liam

Advertisements

Wave of advocacy against domestic and family violence that started in Ballina

By Sarah Waters

Domestic violence is an epidemic in Australia, but past President of The Rotary Club of Ballina on Richmond Dave Harmon is drawing support from all corners of the country – and abroad – to tackle the issue head on.

The grim reality of the country’s domestic violence statistics were highlighted last month, following the death of 28-year-old NSW childcare worker Molly Ticehurst, who was killed by her ex-partner.

She was the 25^th women to die from gender-based violence in Australia this year.

The Federal Government has since announced a suite of funding measures to target the escalating crisis, including an investment of $925m over five years to permanently establish the Leaving Violence Payment.

Mr Harmon said there will always be a need to support people escaping domestic and family violence, but he believes preventing it is the long-term solution.

For the past six years, since his friend’s sister was killed by her partner, Mr Harmon has rallied together rotary clubs from across the country to address domestic violence at a grassroots level.

Dave Harmon, front left, has led the ‘Rotary Says NO to Domestic and Family Violence’ campaign

“I just remember sitting there (at the memorial service) thinking this is bloody crazy, what’s going on, what could I do,” he said.

“It was 2018 and I was the incoming president of The Rotary Club of Ballina on Richmond and I felt like this was my call to action.”

At a local Rotary club board meeting, Mr Harmon explained he felt as though Rotary needed to connect with the community and what’s relevant in today’s society.

The board all agreed there was probably no cause more relevant than the shocking prevalence of domestic and family violence in Australia.

Rotary formed partnerships with the NSW Police and local agencies in Ballina to discuss their ‘Rotary Says NO to Domestic and Family Violence’ campaign and they all got behind it.

Now in November each year, Mr Harmon coordinates the Domestic and Family Violence Community Walk through Cherry and River Streets in Ballina to raise awareness about the crisis.

Hundreds of people have shown up each year since the walk started in 2019 and it has gone on to become a national – and international – movement.

Last year during 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, 110 events and activities were held by Rotary clubs throughout Australia.

About 1300 Rotary clubs from 16 countries have also followed The Rotary Club of Ballina on Richmond and actively participate in the ‘Rotary Says NO to Domestic and Family Violence’ campaign.

Mr Harmon saw the opportunity to take the campaign abroad when he became a Rotary District Governor last year.

He presented the idea that Rotary Zone 8, which includes rotary clubs in Australia, New Zealand and several Pacific Islands, combine together to raise awareness and advocate against domestic and family violence.

“It was fully endorsed by them all,” he said.

“It was the first time in over 40 years that we had a common purpose or cause in our rotary zone.

“That shows you how connected we feel about this cause.”

And, at a local level, Cherry St Sports group have helped to fund 1000 free shirts for the Purple Friday campaign.

The joint initiative between The Rotary Club of Ballina on Richmond and Cherry St Sports has seen more than 90 businesses in Ballina, schools, council and sport organisations all wear purple t-shirts with the ‘Rotary Say No to Domestic Violence’ slogan each Friday.

The Rotary Club of Ballina on Richmond run a community event with Ballina Shire Council to help combat Domestic and Family Violence, from left, retired Detective Sergeant Damian Loone, CEO of Cherry St Sports Tere Sheehan, Ballina Shire Mayor Sharon Cadwallader and Rotarians David and Robyn Harmon

Mr Harmon said it kept the issue of domestic and family violence in the spotlight, so women felt seen, heard and supported.

“Some of the discussions that have happened in our town in Ballina have been very, very powerful,” he said.

“A local hairdresser here in town, who wore the purple t-shirt, had a couple of women come in one day and discussed them being current victims of family violence.

“They hadn’t told anyone before.”

Despite the groundswell of support for the campaign here, and abroad, Mr Harmon said stamping out domestic violence won’t happen overnight.

He maintains the focus needs to be on preventing misogynistic behaviours and changing current attitudes.

“I use the analogy of the drunk driving laws that came in, in the late 1970s in New South Wales.

“It took 20 to 30 years of increased penalties and campaigning to educate our community about drunk driving.

“Today, if you see someone getting into a car drunk most of us will either ring the police or do something about it.

“We also need to step up and call it out when we see disrespectful behaviour happening towards a family member, a friend or when we’re out socially.

“But prevention is the long-term way out of this.”

Mr Harmon and his wife Robyn have helped to introduce Love Bites, a Respectful Relationships Education Program for young people into local schools.

It equips young people with the knowledge about communicating mindfully, warning signs of abusive behaviour, power in relationships and responding to concerns as bystanders.

If you need support or assistance with domestic and family violence call: 1800 RESPECT or visit 1800respect.org.au

For more local Ballina news, click here.

Advertisements

Up Next

MasterChef winner Brent Draper’s new cooking journey through the Northern Rivers

Don't Miss

Rising High-Income Renters Intensify Housing Affordability Crisis

Ballina News

Registrations Open for Second Hand Saturday

Published

4 days ago

11 September 2024

Liam

Advertisements

Registrations Open for Second Hand Saturday

Worried about the cost of living? Join the reuse revolution on Saturday 21 September 2024 as we welcome the North Coast’s largest day of garage sales – Second Hand Saturday!

Since 2005, North East Waste has been organising Second Hand Saturday across the Northern Rivers region as support for community reuse and repair. With over 400 garage sales at last year’s event, 2024 is shaping up to be bigger and better than ever.

It’s one huge organised day of garage sales with residents across the North Coast taking part to make extra cash on items they no longer need, or find bargains at a fraction of the cost of buying new.

A recent study done by Charitable Reuse Australia in partnership with the NSW EPA, found that households across the state were able to save $423 million just last year by shopping second-hand.

Second Hand Saturday: 21 September 2024

It’s not only good for our wallets though, the study also found that 49,000 tonnes of what could have been waste was diverted from landfill through the second hand market.

You can be a part of Second Hand Saturday by registering to hold your own garage sale, or teaming up with family, friends or neighbours for a coordinated sale. There’s also the opportunity to register a group event as a local community organisation, fundraiser, school or church.

“Participating in Second Hand Saturday as a buyer, seller, or both, is a fantastic way to contribute to the local circular economy. Pre-loved items are often cheaper and more unique than what you find in the shops. This event helps us give goods a new life rather than taking up space in landfill, connect with our local community, and make or save a bit of extra cash- wins all around,” says Justine Rowe, council’s Resource Recovery Education Officer.

Visit secondhandsaturday.com.au for more information and to register a garage sale.

For more local Ballina news, click here.

Advertisements

Ballina News

12 Risk Factors For Dementia You Can Change

Published

2 weeks ago

4 September 2024

Liam

12 Risk Factors For Dementia You Can Change

Advertisements

12 Risk Factors For Dementia You Can Change

Advertorial

12 Risk Factors For Dementia You Can Change

The Dementia Inclusive Ballina Alliance is excited to deliver its annual dementia symposium to the community of the North Coast. This inspirational and informative event for health professionals, carers of people living with dementia and interested parties will be held on Friday the 25th of October at the Ballina RSL club in beautiful Ballina. Local well known identity Mandy Nolan will MC the event. Mandy is experienced in working with people with high levels of dementia in a very innovative approach.

This exciting event brings together renowned international and local experts, including Professor Susan Kurrle Geriatrician; who is renowned for her 2023 ABC program ‘Old Peoples Home for Teenagers’, Professor Ian Cameron Professor of Rehabilitation Medicine; who has published Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Care of People Living with Traumatic Brain Injury in the Community, Associate Professor Sarah Russell; Healthy Ageing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, Dr Suraj Samtani; Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, plus our local Geriatrician Dr Danielle Medek, Dr Tien Khoo; Staff Specialist General Medicine and local GP’s Dr Hilton Koppe, Dr Peter Silberberg to name a few.

12 Risk Factors For Dementia You Can Change

The theme for this year’s symposium is Fostering Resilience to Dementia: Recognising and Reducing Risk based on the 2020 report of the Lancet Commission which identified twelve risk factors into a life-course model of dementia prevention. The report advises ‘together 12 modifiable risk factors account for around 40% of worldwide dementias, which consequently could theoretically be prevented or delayed. It is never too early and never too late in the life course for dementia prevention’.

Our speakers will address the identified risk factors including obesity, physical inactivity, smoking, less education, diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, depression, hearing impairment excessive alcohol consumption, social isolation, air pollution, living in an urban area and how these factors impact dementia.

This event should not be missed, the organisers have been successful in gaining local sponsorship to keep registration cost to a minimum. The Ramada hotel Ballina has kindly offered a reduced rate for accommodation for delegates for Spa Room @ $225 per room per night. Please use the code 491499. When making your booking.

We look forward to seeing you on the day.

For more local Ballina news, click here.

Advertisements

Ballina News

Ballina mayoral candidates

Published

2 weeks ago

4 September 2024

Liam

Advertisements

Ballina mayoral candidates

By Tim Howard

The Northern Rivers Times asked candidates for Mayor in the September 14 Local Government elections in Ballina to explain why they’re running and what they thought of holding a popular vote for the office.

By deadline this week, two had taken up the offer and it remains open for the other three, Sharon Cadwallader, Kevin Loughrey and Kiri Dicker.

Andrew Broadley

I have genuine gratitude for my life here. I wish to return it with service to the community.

I have experienced life as a member of a working family, balancing the cost of providing for a family while encouraging my children and partner to excel at their chosen activities.

I have the shared experience of many, which is commuting to work on the Bruxner Highway, involvement in local sporting clubs, volunteering in cultural and community activities.

I am here to listen and serve the people of our community. I hope to continue advocating for the needs of our community through a more official pathway.

Challenges

The cost of living is the major issue in our area.

This is clearly experienced through the scarcity of affordable housing and energy prices.

As Mayor I will work tirelessly to manage the costs of delivering Council services so that there is no additional burden placed on families in these difficult times.

I will use my vote on council to ensure that council resources are managed prudently to provide continuity of service to the community.

It is critical that the decisions of Ballina Council do not undermine the measures that our Federal Government has put in place, such as income tax cuts and cheaper medicines.

All levels of government must address the cost of living in a substantial way.

The health of the Richmond River has been neglected for too long. Multiple reports have been tabled, the recommendations ignored. Ballina Council must commission regular water quality testing and publish the results.

In 2019 a report to the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment recommended the establishment of a Richmond River Coordinator.

An employee who would work with all stakeholders to coordinate on ground works, arrange funding for repairs and plan for the restoration of the river.

It is imperative that this happens quickly.

Popular vote for Mayor?

The outcome of popular votes tends to favour the incumbent candidate.

As a challenger, it is logical for me to confirm that I would prefer a different way of choosing the Mayor.

Phil Meehan

It’s time for change. Simple as that. This is why I am running for Mayor in Ballina Shire.

One of my key principles in local government is ‘social justice’. It is my belief that during this last term of Council, this principle has on too many occasions gone missing. We have had a small group of residents being able to ‘choose their own land zone’. A right not given to all. We have had another group of residents not being allowed to apply to manage a community facility. We have had councillors denigrating others because of political affiliations. We simply need a change, and I believe I have the integrity, experience, and social conscience to provide the positive leadership required.
The major challenge In Ballina Shire, like all others, is to maintain a sustainable financial position while not putting pressure on residents through extra rate or charge rises. I have a strong view that Council should examine its own structures and operations to identify where savings can be made while maintaining service levels.
The election of Mayor by popular vote has a strength in that the people have the say, they elect the Mayor. Election of mayor by councillors inherently involves factionalism and political deals being done. The downside of the popular election is that the voters do not necessarily know the real capacities of the candidates.

For more local elections news, click here.

Advertisements