Over 1000 Novocastrians marched along Wharf Road on March 29 in a desperate plea to reform domestic violence laws and improve funding to better assist victims.
Protestors walked for nearly a kilometre from Newcastle Museum to Nobbys Beach, adorned in purple and orange, holding signs and chanting, “we won’t go quietly, we won’t be silenced, we say no to domestic violence”.
Co-organiser of the march and founder of What Were You Wearing, Sarah Williams, told NovoNews that she hoped the event reached the ears of politicians who could influence sustained change.
“The march was to end domestic violence,” Williams said.
“We want to unite, be one and fight for justice. Not only for people who have lost their lives but for those who have been silenced.”
The organisation announced the last-minute event on March 27 after receiving requests from the family and friends of Mackenzie Anderson to organise a public event condemning domestic violence.
21- year old mother, Mackenzie Anderson, was tragically murdered by her ex-partner at her Mayfield home on March 25.
Mackenzie died at the scene after sustaining injuries officers described as “horrendous”, and her child, aged 1, was found inside a cupboard in the home.
Authorities revealed that her attacker Tyrone Thompson served four months of a nine-month sentence for assault and had been released on parole for only two weeks when he entered Mackenzie’s home.
Thompson was arrested and taken to John Hunter Hospital to treat hand injuries before he was charged with murder, breaching an AVO and aggravated enter dwelling with intent.
Williams described the recent passing of Mackenzie as “devastating”, and said it hit particularly close to home as many within her organisation knew her personally.
“Max’s (Mackenzie) death just goes to show that more needs to be done,” Williams said.
“More needs to be done by policymakers and people in positions of power who can actually make real change and reform laws.”
In tributes on social media, Mackenzie was remembered as a “shining light” and a kind friend to all.
“I’m not shocked at what has happened … we’ve been seeing these domestic violence rates for years and years just grow,” Williams said.
She said protestors demanded more funding for organisations that support domestic and sexual violence, particularly for organisations that provide shelters for victims.
“As they don’t have much funding at the moment, there are limited spaces in shelters for victims and their families,” Williams said.
“We want more law reform, law enforcement, and people in powerful positions to take this seriously and not suggest band-aid fixes.
“We need justice for Max and everyone in domestic violence relationships who are too scared to escape and are being silenced.”
Williams’ statements come after five women were killed in Australia in just one week, a figure that she said was “ridiculous”.
In Australia, a woman on average is killed every nine days by a current or former partner.
State Member for Newcastle Tim Crakanthorp said that if the rate continued, 60 more women would be killed this year.
Williams said that while she was incredibly grateful for the march’s response, the community still had to come together in a sustained effort to lobby policymakers to enact change.
“It’s so great that so many people came along, but we can’t just come together at the march and for it to just end there … we can’t forget about these violence issues,” she said.
“We need to continue this every single day afterwards as well.”
While Federal Member for Newcastle Sharon Claydon was unable to attend the march, she released a statement that was read aloud to the crowd.
“A safe workplace, a safe place to live, fair and equal pay, access to quality education, and a justice system that works for survivors should not be too much to expect in 2022 – it should be the bare minimum,” the statement read.
“I stand with you in solidarity to end this national scourge of violence against women and children.”
Williams revealed that in line with Sexual Assault Awareness Month, the What Were Your Wearing Organisation would be organising additional marches and events to “continuously reinforce the message”.
“We won’t be silenced until justice is delivered,” she said.
Executive Manager of Jenny’s Place, Marcia Chapman, echoed Williams’ calls for shelter facility funding, and said that demand had outstripped supply.
“With the current housing crisis in Newcastle, we desperately need more crisis accommodation for women escaping violence,” Chapman said.
“At the moment, services are at capacity so women are staying in unsafe situations because there’s nowhere to go – we need a lot of help.”
Chapman compared the organisation’s shelter service to this time last year, she said women seeking crisis accommodation had increased by 30 per cent.
She revealed that victims fleeing to secure rental accommodation had dropped by 45 per cent, meaning they were relying on friends, family or staying in cars.
Chapman, who has worked in the domestic violence sphere for 35 years, condemned the recent murder of Mackenzie and said law reform and harsher penalties were needed.
“How is it that someone on parole with an AVO against them can gain access to commit such a horrific murder? It’s alarming,” Chapman said.
While she supports the implementation of harsher penalties, she believes that early intervention and prevention work is crucial to stopping violent behaviour in its tracks.
“If you want to stop family and domestic violence, you must work with the people perpetrating it,” Chapman said.
“You’ve got to make people aware that it’s not okay and if they do it, there are severe penalties.
“If you don’t work with the perpetrators, everything we’re doing is a band-aid fix.”
Chapman implored the community to support victims of family and domestic violence.
“Men speaking up to men is important … or get behind us and rally for political change and changes to law enforcement,” she said.
“Even make contact with your local service and ask how you can help to support much-needed change.”
Residents can donate to a GoFundMe page, which has been set up to assist with ongoing support for Mackenzie Anderson’s son.
National Domestic Violence Service helpline: 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732).
If you are in immediate danger, call Triple Zero (000).
Maia O’Connor
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