The Rotary Club of Sunbury is opening the door on discussions about family violence, with a forum to be held on March 27.
The event will be held at the Sunbury Neighbourhood House at 6.30pm for a 7pm start and speakers include state and local police, and Orange Door and Sunbury Cobaw Community Health (SCCH) representatives.
Respect Victoria reported in March 2023, about 39 per cent of women in Victoria have experience physical or sexual violence since the age of 15.
Sunbury Rotary member Terry Grant Rotary in Australia and New Zealand decided they want to put a voice in the community to stop the violence.
“It’s building on things we’ve had locally as well,” he said. “Someone from Victoria Police taskforce for family violence will open up with their first address advising everyone that it is a state wide issue.
“The second speaker will be Sergeant Erin Simper… [who] will be outlining the problem that exists in the communities.
“SCCH will have someone talk about the resources that they have in place to give assistance… and an Orange Door [speaker] will talk about what facilities they have.”
Mr Grant said they have been fortunate enough to have donations from the major supermarkets in town and will be able to provide refreshments while attendees can chat further with the speakers.
“They will have their own individual stand set up and people can go and talk to whoever they wish to talk to.”
The event will finish about 9pm and Mr Grant said if the event is successful they may look into holding more throughout Hume.
Zoe Moffatt
