Bunbury women’s vigil demands ‘not one more’ victim of domestic violence

With 29 women killed in gender-base violence incidents this year alone, a snap vigil was held at Graham Bricknell Music Shell on Thursday with men, women and children demanding “not one more”.

Some of the most notable killings have occurred in Ballarat, and in the fatal stabbing of five women at Bondi Junction last week.

The South West vigil was called after two people were charged with the murder of Tara Morrison in Broadwater last Monday.

Organiser Emma Cook said the idea for the vigil came as people were sharing a need to vent, feel safe and discuss their feelings.

“We really needed to do this now, for one it’s Anzac Day next week and we didn’t want to take anything away from them, we just needed to show up for these women and show our support,” she said.

“We want people to bring their empathy, creativity, and know this is a safe space to show up, to mourn each other regardless of gender.”

Marilyn Palmer said more needed to be done on educating people about the threats surrounding extreme misogynistic thinking and what is known as “the mano-sphere” — the name given to the collection of far-right communities promoting extremist theologies.

“We need to start seriously talking about men in particular who are being radicalised around misogyny, by the incel movement, by the mano-sphere,” she said.

“It shouldn’t take murder for people to start acknowledging this. We need to start using that language to alert to the fact they are being manipulated, and we need to talk to them to learn what their fears are.

“It’s not man versus woman, the genders are neighbours.”

The vigil featured a group singing of Amazing Grace, speeches from community members and an installation of 29 bras, representing the 29 women who have died by violent means this year.

The bras were symbolically splattered with red paint, which was used to make banners reading “not one more.”

Another vigil is expected to be held by Waratah Support Centre and the annual vigil will be held on May 2 at Bicentennial Square.