HUNDREDS gathered on Wembley Road on Wednesday afternoon to pledge their support for the war on domestic violence against women.
From skies above the Logan Brothers Rugby League field a giant white ribbon could be seen as the crowd amassed in a show of solidarity with the White Ribbon campaign – an initiative designed to stamp out violence in Australian communities.
The event, held on White Ribbon Day, was supported by several community groups and organisations including the Queensland Police Service, Logan City Council, Access Community Services, MultiLink and WAVSS.
Logan Mayor Pam Parker praised attendees for doing what they could to help defeat what was a “disease” within the community.
“It’s so encouraging to see so many organisations here today coming together for this most important cause,” she said.
“Right across Australia today we have communities holding events.
“Here in Logan we’ve gathered under the banner of communities supporting communities, that’s what we do well in Logan.”
She said the gathering proved residents of Logan would not tolerate violence.
“Today we stand united as men, as women as children to say no to the un-Australian and cowardly act of domestic violence,” she said.
“Real men are not violent towards women or children, perpetrators need to get help and be aware we are watching out for you.
“Today is about saying no to violence whatever the gender.”
Former member for Logan John Mickel also spoke as Logan’s White Ribbon Ambassador.
“Once we value one another as individuals in our workplace, we can make the difference… once we respect one another in our workplaces we will respect one another in our homes,” he said.
He said domestic violence should be as great a concern to Australians as the threat of terrorism.
“We were all appalled at what went on last year in the Lindt Cafe,” he said.
“We were worried about violence, we saw what happened in Paris, we worry it is going to happen here.
“Are we so indifferent that we’ve had 60 people die from (domestic) violence and we don’t get carried away with that.
“We should be equally as terrified of that as some numbskull (killing) in the name of a religion.
“If we are going to be worried about international violence then for goodness sake let’s get worried about domestic violence because that’s equally a scourge on all of us.”
