Community members have joined forces to raise awareness of family violence and take steps towards change.
As part of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign, Mitchell Shire Council held the Steps Towards Change Walk in Seymour on Wednesday, November 29.
More than 150 people gathered at the GOTAFE campus on Loco St before marching the 1km to Goulburn Park behind a banner bearing the message “RESPECT”.
Members of the Zonta Club of Mitchell also took part in the march and carried a banner proclaiming “No to violence against women” and “Yes to gender equality”.
The community members wore orange hats and T-shirts as they spread a message of strength against family violence.
The event was also designed to build knowledge of local support services available for people experiencing violence in the home.
Mitchell Youth Services and Healthy Kids Mitchell were among the stands set up to share information in the park.
The first annual Mitchell Community Walk to End Violence for the 16 Days of Activism Campaign was held in Kilmore in 2019.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and last year’s floods, the walk had been postponed until last week’s event.
Running from November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, to December 10, Human Rights Day, 16 Days of Activism is an international campaign to challenge violence against women and girls.
Council partners with local organisations through the Lower Hume Collaborative Group each year to support the campaign.