Lithgow marches together against domestic violence on White Ribbon Day

Lithgow’s second White Ribbon Day March from Queen Elizabeth Park to the Lithgow Workmen’s Club attracted the attention of passersby on Main Street, many stopping to watch or clap. White Ribbon Day coincided with the International Day for the Prevention of Violence against Women on November 25.

A coalition of community groups called Lithgow Cares, which includes Lithgow Community Projects and LINC, and organised the march and a trivia night with White Ribbon Day ambassador Cr Darryl Goodwin.

Fundraising at the trivia night on Friday raised $4,600, half of which will go to Lithgow Cares and the other half will go to White Ribbon. 

Mr Goodwin, who is also a Lithgow City Councillor, police officer and retained firefighter, said that Lithgow police frequently responded to men’s violence against women.

“Yes, we deal with it everyday. It takes up a lot of our time. It doesn’t take up all of it but it takes up a fair chunk.

“I think in the past people accepted it. They put it into a corner, no one wanted to talk about it. I think it has taken media coverage and awareness of the women dying and getting injured to make it a public issue,” he said.

“It’s not just physical violence, its financial hardships, social isolation and other things like men preventing women from accessing their religion and more.”

Lithgow Mayor Stephen Lesslie started off the march with a speech.

“Violence against women can happen in any social class, not just the poor or the rich, it affects everybody and when it does it can destroy families.”

Leona George, who attended the march with her family, said that as a teacher she has some knowledge of the violence that occurs in local homes.

“The issue really needs to be raised in the community,” she said.

“It’s nice to see lots of men here and not just women.”

Danny Fitzgerald of the Lithgow Men’s Shed, another community group in the march, said violence against women was “getting beyond a joke”.

“We hear bits and pieces… Something has got to be done about the violence against women and children. It’s time we stood up and got counted.”

Yvonne Thomas, a Lithgow resident who stopped to clap the parade as it went past, said the event reflected the warmth of the community.

“Look, the people are so kind here. Everyone is willing to give you a hand,  there’s no other town like it.”