First ever 16 Days in WA in march in Narrogin paints the town orange to support domestic violence survivors

Narrogin was inundated with a wave of orange on Thursday morning as support services and community members rallied in support for 16 Days in WA.

The first-ever 16 Days in WA march in Narrogin had about 40 members take part, including team members from Share and Care Community Service Group, the Department of Communities and WA Police.

Before take off, Share and Care program manager Tara Lanciano addressed the walkers, she said the issue “remains urgent and real”.

“Everyone has a right to feel safe in their home, their relationship and their community,” she said.

“Last year one woman lost her life in every nine days. This year that statistic is one in every eight days.”

Ms Lanciano said the march shifts attitudes that “keeps violence hidden”, strengthens understanding and builds a safer community for everyone.

Dressed in bright orange, the group paraded the main streets from Narrogin Regional Leisure Centre to Mackie Park.

Family violence officer Sen. Const. Claire Oakley said a lot of domestic violence happens behind closed doors so the point of the 16 Days in WA march was to be bright and loud in order to bring awareness to the issue.

Onlookers praised the marching group, with one man shouting “good on you, very good” as they passed.

Sen. Const. Oakley said while the entire community may not have joined the march, walking through the town gets everyone talking about what the march represents.

She said the best way for others to play their part is to focus on a local level by looking out for friends and family — and reminding anyone who needs it that support services in the Wheatbelt are available.

“We can’t physically be in everybody’s homes, see everybody, bring attention to all the support services to everyone,” she said.

“It’s knowing your small local community and being that extra person for us to get the knowledge out here, to get them calling, that’s what we need is people to speak to us because you might be that one person that saves a life.”

Throughout the Wheatbelt region farmers and businesses have displayed orange hay bales to show support in a unique way.

Sen. Const. Oakley said it is scary for survivors to come forward but police will always fight for their safety.

“It can be really daunting to make the first step and overwhelming but when we do have a victim come forward we wrap our arms around them,” she said.

“There’s a lot of police contact, family services, child protection, we make sure they have everything that they need — we work together to get the best outcomes to keep everybody safe.”

Sen. Const. Oakley thanked those who joined the march and is hopeful the rally will gain more traction in years to come.