Bunbury domestic violence vigils end after 200 weeks, honouring 310 women and children since March 2021

Every Friday morning a group of people have gathered in the Bunbury CBD to raise awareness and honour lives lost to domestic violence. After 200 weeks of vigils, including honouring the deaths of 310 women and children during that time, the Alongside Women’s Action Group joined for Friday morning’s final gathering The vigil as been a weekly presence in Bunbury on Friday mornings since March 15, 2021, on the corner of Clifton and Victoria streets. Organiser Marilyn Palmer said the vigil was directly formed out of the national March for Justice. “Nearly four years ago, when we gathered for that march, it was huge,” she said. “Bunbury was huge. We decided we would do something to keep going, to keep attention to the issue.” A core group of about 10 women joined weekly, with others joining on and off throughout the weeks. “I think domestic violence and violence against women goes off the agenda really, really easily,” Ms Palmer said. “Governments say ‘we’ll give money to it (the issue)‘ but then it just disappears again. The debts are very frequent and very significant. “We decided we would look at the sites that count the number of dead women and children and we would post that every week. “We think that’s really powerful.” Although many now support the group by honking their car horns as they drive past, it wasn’t always the case. “In the early days we’d get people being a bit abusive,” Ms Palmer said. “People would say ‘get a life’, ‘get a job’, ‘what about men’ or sometimes people just do the finger. “Occasionally a man will come and be a bit aggressive and say ‘it’s not just women’ so we try and have a respectful conversation with them. “Very rarely would anyone do that — I think they realised they just looked really lame.” Members of the group would meet in front of Federal member for Forrest Nola Marino’s office, at one of the main intersections of Bunbury’s city centre. “Even though a lot of responses to family and domestic violence are State-based rather than Federal, she still has a very important role to play,” Ms Palmer said. “We feel she has some moral authority to act. We’ve wanted to continually remind her of that.” Advocate Wendy Bonny said each paper heart planted in the nearby grass represented lives lost at the hands of domestic violence. “The big hearts represent women and the small hearts for the children,” she said. “We’re red for the RED HEARTS campaign and it was created by a woman who keeps track of femicides. Two-hundred and thirty-three women and 77 children have died since March 15, 2021. “Two of those women have died this year.” Fellow advocate Anne Barker said the weekly vigil was designed “to keep the conversation going and keep people aware of what’s happening”. “We are holding space for all the people who have died, but all the people who are still in domestic violence situations and the survivors,” she said. “We hear all sorts of stories and they’re grateful we’re a reminder of what needs to change in society. “Just because the news stops, it doesn’t mean the problem is solved.” Now, after 200 weeks in rain, hail and shine, the vigils will end. Ms Palmer said 200 weeks felt like a “natural stopping point” but said they may return in the future.