Local launch for nationwide rally

WITH about thirty women allegedly murdered as a result of male-perpetrated violence this year, Ballarat served as the launching point for a wave of rallies that took place across Australia over the weekend.

Taking place on Friday, the local event was one of 12 rallies that took place across the nation, with the movement organised by What Were You Wearing, an Indigenous, disabled, and queer-led not-for-profit established in Newcastle and aimed at eradicating gender-based violence in Australia.

The walk started at finished with speeches on the green at the corner of Bakery Hill’s Main Road and Little Bridge Street.

Speakers included organisers Levi Storm and Cathy Oddie, and City of Ballarat councillor Belinda Coates.

Liana Emmerson also spoke to the crowd and sang a modernised version of the suffragette poem Bread and Roses.

She said the rally was an important display of unification.

“When there’s a massive societal problem and you feel like you’re carrying it alone, going to a rally like that is really valuable,” she said.

“It brings some sort of hope that together, we could bring some sort of change because something needs to change.”

Rallies also took place in Geelong, Newcastle, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Sydney, Bendigo, Coffs Harbour, Sunshine Coast, and Brisbane before finishing at Parliament House in Canberra with an address from Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese.

The Ballarat community has experienced a particular spate of gendered violence in recent months, following the deaths of Rebecca Young, Samantha Murphy, and Hannah McGuire allegedly at the hands of men.

“Holding the first rally here, I felt like it was a great offering to the people of Ballarat to honour the very personal experience they’ve had,” Ms Emmerson said.

What Were You Wearing is calling on additional funding for domestic and sexual violence services, better reporting options for those experiencing family violence, and for 48-hour timed media restrictions in identifying women murdered by men.

“It was very valuable that with this rally they went ‘these are the specific things we are going to ask for and this is how they will impact things’,” Ms Emmerson said.

Last Friday’s local event followed a snap rally held two weeks earlier organised by community leader Sissy Austin.

Organisers were unable to respond for comment in time for publication.