Bring candles and determination to Reclaim the Night

VIOLENCE against women is now acknowledged as a crisis across Australia.

Reclaim the Night Ballarat will unite on Friday, 25 October to take a stand against the violence.

Kate Poynter and Catherine Farrah are the two-women working group organising the event.

Ms Poynter said their aim is to encourage the public and other local organisations to join them in demonstrating their distress at the ongoing situation.

“It is endlessly frustrating for all the talking and all the awareness we have about it that it is still a problem,” she said.

“That’s why this year we thought we would walk down the Prime Ministers walk in the Botanical Gardens and make a bit of noise. “Coming together and feeling you are not isolated and alone in your care about the issue is really important.”

The campaign and the event are being conducted at a grass roots level. This year is a more of a low-key event than in past years with no politicians having been invited to speak.

“We want the community to speak out instead so we will make a space for that to happen,” Ms Poynter said.

She is encouraging everyone who attends to bring hope, enthusiasm, drums, glowsticks, candles and banners.

It is way to show support and help demonstrate Ballarat’ s commitment to a lasting social and institutional shift.

With a theme this year of ‘I Demand Change’ the campaign is taking a dual approach, on the street and online.

Street side, the march along Prime Ministers Avenue is to show what it looks like when women, children and men can enjoy safety from violence at night, and most importantly any time.

Online action began with Reclaim the Night asking the community to use social media to share their thoughts and feelings on what they want to see change.

At the completion of the march there will be a community speak out where some of the I Demand Change statements will be read.

Reclaim the Night will start at the Almeida Pavilion in the Botanical Gardens on Friday, 25 October at 7.30pm and conclude at the MacDonald Bandstand.

For further information go to rtnballarat.wixsite.com/rtnb or email [email protected].