In response to the tragic death of Cobram resident Emma Bates, rallies against gendered violence were held across the nation.
At Nathalia’s rally on Saturday, April 27, The News reporter Kady Hadjab gauged attendees’ opinions on whether enough was being done to combat this issue.
Brendan Ginnavan, Nathalia
“No, I don’t. The statistics speak for themselves. Society seems to accept violence; I don’t think we should.
“I’ve been following the coverage of rallies around the country, and I couldn’t help but notice the low number of men present. This is where we need to start.
“As a teacher, I came to the rally to provide support and look for answers. It’s time to collectively ask what we can do as a society to address this issue.”
Christina Stephenson, Nathalia
“No, I think gendered violence is very deeply ingrained in societies; it’s like racism, and it can’t be changed overnight.
“Gendered violence is an ongoing systematic issue. The responsibility for these changes rests with the government. It is going to take men calling men out for things to change, too.”
Rhonda Bishop, Rushworth
“The courts have a lot to answer to. Releasing people on bail is not the answer.”
Claire Andrews, Nathalia
“Government services need to be improved. When women try to leave, a lot turn to shelters but are turned away because they are dealing with addictions (often to numb the abuse they are experiencing). Addressing this fact is crucial to help all victims-survivors.”