Just as the red glow of traffic lights has people stopping, so too will two Goulburn Valley landmarks this Saturday as part of a national campaign.
Shepparton’s Monash Park tree and Mooroopna’s water tower will be lit up red for International FASD Awareness Day.
The red lights encourage community members to ask why and prompt them to learn more about fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.
NOFASD Australia chair Cheryl Dedman said raising awareness about FASD was extremely important as often it was a hidden disability mistakenly diagnosed as autism or ADHD.
“It’s estimated over two per cent of the population are diagnosed with FASD — more than autism, spina bifida, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome and SIDS combined,” she said.
FASD has no cure, and those with the condition may experience difficulty processing information, problems with memory, and limited social and emotional understanding.
In addition to the red lights, Ms Dedman and other supporters will don red shoes to support FASD’s global movement, Red Shoes Rock.
“We have the awareness day and the Red Shoes Rock campaign on the ninth day of the ninth month to recognise the importance of alcohol-free pregnancy,” she said.
“We don’t want stigma attached — it’s not a blame and shame, it’s about education and support.
“It’s very much a common situation for women to need help during pregnancy to not feel pressured to drink, to support those with addiction, and to support those living with FASD and their families.”
Ms Dedman will be at the front of Tatura Community House on Saturday from 10am to noon to bring further awareness to the day.
“It’d be really great to get the GV behind this,” she said.
“People can wear red shoes, take photos of them and of the red lights, upload with the tags @NOFASD and #RedShoesRock, it’s so positive to see it ... it’s good to be able to look at the positives and to know there’s support for those living with FASD.”
For more information, visit https://www.nofasd.org.au/red-shoes-rock/