Community unites for Gannawarra Goes Orange campaign

Published on 12 November 2024

Gannawarra Shire Council, Northern District Community Health (NDCH), the Rotary Club of Kerang and other agencies are uniting during late November and early December as part of the annual global campaign to call-out gender-based violence and encourage a future where everyone is safe, respected, and equal.

Sixteen days of events are planned between Monday, 25 November and Tuesday, 10 December as part of the Gannawarra Goes Orange campaign, which coincides with the International 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.

“We all play a role in calling out gender-based violence, which is impacting people’s lives here in the Gannawarra,” Council Chief Executive Officer, Geoff Rollinson said.

“Between July 2023 and June 2024 there were 212 reported incidents of family violence in the Gannawarra, with close to 80 per cent of those affected by these violent incidents being female. Often children and young people are also involved*.”

* Data for Gannawarra Shire for year ending June 2024: www.crimestatistics.vic.gov.au/crime-statistics/latest-crime-data-by-area

The highlight of the upcoming Gannawarra campaign will be the Rotary Club of Kerang-organised Walk Against Family Violence, occurring from 10.30am on Tuesday, 3 December. Residents are encouraged to wear orange and join community leaders in walking from Atkinson Park to Northern District Community Health’s Kerang headquarters for a commemorative tree planting, then to Victoria Square for a speech from Marina Simonelli and a barbecue lunch provided by the Rotary Club of Kerang.

“The 16 days walk represents our shared commitment to ending family violence. It’s a powerful reminder that by standing together, we can create lasting change and foster a community built on safety, respect, and equality,” NDCH Chief Executive Officer, Penny Wilkinson said.

“We support the Gannawarra Goes Orange campaign  as we have seen a rise in domestic violence over the years and we need to raise the community's awareness so people affected by domestic violence know they have support,” Rotary Club of Kerang President, Tony Pearson said.

Other highlights occurring during the 16-day campaign include:

• A Women’s Health Loddon Mallee-organised Together We Can Change the Story: Exploring Men’s Role in Building Respect and Equality webinar, occurring on Tuesday, 26 November from 10am;
• Special Gannawarra Library Service Story Time sessions, featuring No Difference Between Us by Jayneen Sanders. These sessions are occurring at the Leitchville Library on Tuesday, 3 December at 1pm, Kerang’s Sir John Gorton Library on Wednesday, 4 December at 10.30am, and the Cohuna Library on Thursday, 5 December at 10.30am;
• Incorporating the Gannawarra Goes Orange campaign into Gannawarra Shire Children’s Services’ programs, including encouraging children to wear orange and distributing resources to families;
• Lighting up key Council and community assets orange during the campaign; and
• Local cafes incorporating 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence messaging on their take-away coffee cups during the campaign.

To view the full Gannawarra Goes Orange campaign program, please click here.

Businesses are also encouraged to participate in the campaign by decorating their shops and offices in orange. If your business would like to take up this opportunity, please contact NDCH on (03) 5451 0200 or Council on (03) 5450 9333.

The Gannawarra Goes Orange campaign is supported by Gannawarra Shire Council, Northern District Community Health, Kerang District Health, Cohuna District Hospital, Mallee District Aboriginal Service, Victoria Police, and Rotary Club of Kerang, supported by funding from Respect Victoria and Safe and Equal, Victoria’s peak body for specialist family violence services.

If you think you or your friend, partner, colleague, family member is at risk of using violence, call the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491 and experienced counsellors will help you take the next steps. If you are experiencing violence please call 1800RESPECT or Safe Steps on 1800 015 188. In an emergency call Triple Zero (000).

ABOVE: Chino's on Victoria's Raelene Hall (left) and Gannawarra Shire Council Chief Executive Officer, Geoff Rollinson with the Gannawarra Goes Orange program and take-away coffee cup messaging.