The Family Violence Awareness Group is gearing up to host the Reclaim the Night march this Friday, October 26 at Machattie Park, an annual event that encourages members of the community to take a stand to end violence against women.
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Now in its third year of operation, Reclaim the Night is a free event that brings members of the Bathurst community together to recognise and support women who have been victims of domestic violence.
Reclaim the Night is a local offshoot of a larger movement that has generated a significant international following in recent years.
“The night is a time when women can experience domestic violence, so reclaiming the night is for women to regain their power,” event spokesperson Kirsten Langham said.
Ms Langham, a specialist domestic violence case manager at the Bathurst Women and Children’s Refuge, said the event continues to grow every year, as it offers a safe and empathetic atmosphere for domestic violence survivors to share their stories.
“Lots of people don’t like to talk about domestic violence as they don’t feel it’s something that the community wants to hear about,” she said.
“Reclaim the Night is all about taking that stigma away from domestic violence and making it a community event to bring women together to demand justice for survivors.”
Ms Langham says that violence against women is not simply a woman getting physically hurt, but more of a multi-layered issue that can have far-reaching impacts.
“Women [who have been victims of domestic violence] can lose a lot of their self-esteem and confidence which, in turn, can have a flow-on impact with their children and their finances,” she said.
This year’s event will feature live speaking and musical performances by local musicians Smith & Jones and Gabbi Bolt, as well as a free barbeque and face painting.
The march will begin at the Machattie Park at 5.30pm this Friday, and the invite is extended to the entire Bathurst community.