THE creation of a sculptural memorial in Victoria Park for survivors of sexual abuse will receive half-a-million dollars in State funding if Labor re-forms government later this month.<\/p>\n
The aim of the Continuous Voices Survivors Memorial will be to acknowledge the trauma and pain that comes from sexual violence, and to provide a place for those affected to sit, reflect, and remember.<\/p>\n
Continuous Voices\u2019 Blake Curran lost his father, Peter Curran, to depression after he had been abused as a child at St Alipius, and St Patrick\u2019s College.<\/p>\n
Mr Curran said the funding pledge is not just one for survivors, and their families, but for the whole community.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt will bring together the fruition of our plans and ideas, and artistic workshops that have been led by our trauma-informed practice, to ensure that the space, whether it be called a memorial or a reflection healing space, will all culminate in a place of hope,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cMany generations to come will be able to enjoy this space, whether they\u2019re healing from events in Ballarat that have happened in the past few decades, or elsewhere within Australia.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnyone can come and visit and have a reflective time here.\u201d<\/p>\n
Labor candidate for Wendouree Juliana Addison said this project is a special one she is proud to support.<\/p>\n
\u201cBallarat\u2019s Continuous Voices Survivors Memorial will be an Australian-first public art space for all survivors of sexual abuse and facilitate healing and hope,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo all victims and survivors of sexual abuse, we see you, we hear you and we believe you.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Continuous Voices Community Reference Group, and more than 50 survivors, allies and artists have contributed to development and designs.<\/p>\n
The City of Ballarat has already made a commitment of $520,000 to the sculpture, which will be installed by the lake beside Plane Avenue.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
THE creation of a sculptural memorial in Victoria Park for survivors of sexual abuse will receive half-a-million dollars in State funding if Labor re-forms government later this month. The aim of the Continuous Voices Survivors Memorial will be to acknowledge the trauma and pain that comes from sexual violence, and to provide a place for […]<\/p>\n