Community encouraged to attend Conversations in the Pub with Lismore MP Janelle Saffin

A NEW community forum, Conversations in the Pub, will launch in Lismore this month with local MP Janelle Saffin its first guest speaker, opening the series with a focus on domestic violence.

It is a free event and will be held on Friday 19 June at the Sherwood Hotel.

Saffin, who is also the NSW Minister for Recovery, Small Business and the North Coast, is a long-time advocate for domestic violence victims.

She was a founding member of the Far North Coast Domestic Violence Liaison Committee and has spent decades working to improve awareness, support services and outcomes for those affected by domestic and family violence.

“I’m looking forward to being a part of the first-ever Conversations in the Pub event, and the opportunity to speak on an issue that I am very passionate about,” she said.

Her presentation will be followed by a question-and-answer session and panel discussion featuring representatives from local domestic violence organisations, giving attendees the opportunity to engage directly with experts and community leaders.

The panel will be moderated by local lawyer and former Byron Shire councillor Mark Swivel.

Conversations in the Pub convenor and Lismore City councillor Jasmine Knight-Smith said the initiative was created to fill a gap in the city’s civic and community life.

“Conversations in the Pub is all about big ideas, good food and great company,” she said.

“Lismore has been missing a regular politics-in-the-pub style event to bring people together and foster intelligent discussion of topical issues.

“We’re thrilled to have someone of Janelle Saffin’s profile and status in our community to kick things off as our first speaker.

“It’s going to be a relaxed and engaging event – giving everyone a chance to ask a question or have their say.”

The forum is intended to become a regular fixture in Lismore, with future events featuring a range of guest speakers and topics relevant to the community.