news, local-news

FAMILY support workers across Murray Bridge are wanting highlight the devastating effects of domestic violence through regular public vigils. In November, the group first appealed to the Murray Bridge council for permission to hold a vigil at the front of the local government centre each time someone died following an act of domestic violence as a way of raising public awareness. The request at the November council meeting was denied with one councillor changing the motion to allow a vigil once a year. At this week's December meeting Domestic Violence and Family Violence Action Group chair Annette Korzeba appeared in person asking the councillors to hear the reasons behind the request and to reconsider their decision. Ms Korzeba said vigils would have more impact if they were held each time a death occurred and, if combined with newspapers articles and radio segments, they would reinforce the message that domestic violence was wrong. With six to eight deaths in South Australia annually and domestic violence suspected of adding $14 billion to the National health bill, the group are hoping vigils would not only raise awareness but help remove the mythology and the silence surrounding the issue. Ms Korzeba said a comparison of country and city statistics showed, on a percentage of population basis, deaths from domestic violence in country South Australia were greater. "Centacare has an average of 20 to 25 new referrals each month - add to that the referrals coming in to at least 10 other organisations in Murray Bridge which deal with domestic violence ... you do the sums. "There are 30 families in Murray Bridge that we know that are of high risk right now." Victims Support Service's Fiona Mead said that if approved, the vigils would be held within a couple of days of a domestic violence death. "We would probably hold a vigil at 9.30am in the morning within days of the death," she said. "It would last half an hour and we would have someone to speak and raise the flag. "We would lay roses at the foot of the flag and they would stay there until the next morning." Mayor Allan Arbon said the council would take the comments on board and a report would be put forward for consideration.

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