THE community will refuse to stay silent on the horror of domestic violence when Katherinites throw their support behind White Ribbon Day this morning.
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As the nation pauses to reflect on the impact domestic violence has on Australians from all walks of life on November 25, Katherine will do its part by hosting the White Ribbon Muster, which will aim to get 100 men to take an oath committing to prevent violence against women.
The event is a joint initiative between the Katherine Men’s Network, CatholicCare NT, the Red Cross, the Safety is Everyone’s Right local reference group, Northern Territory Police, the Department of Correctional Services and the Department of the Attorney-General and Justice.
Organisers are urging anyone who is thinking about standing up and speaking out to meet in the carpark behind the BP service station on Railway Terrace at 8am.
A march along Katherine Terrace will begin at 9am and event spokesman Stan Law, a senior community development officer with Red Cross, said participants would “muster people from off the the street” along the route to Ryan Park.
“We ask participants to start gathering at the car park from 8am, as the muster will commence at 9am and head north to Ryan Park for the pledge and other activities,” he told the Katherine Times.
“We have arranged for Katherine Terrace to be closed to traffic during the muster, so, if you don’t want to walk the whole route, we can collect you from the footpath on the way.”
Mr Law praised Katherinites for their “truly fantastic” involvement in the lead-up to the event and said he hoped it shone the spotlight on how devastating domestic violence was on families and communities.
“Violence against women is at epidemic proportions,” he said.
“Devastatingly, over 12 months, on average, one woman is killed every week in Australia as a result of intimate partner violence.”
