HUNDREDS gathered on Wednesday evening at the Sale Clocktower Pedestrian Mall for the Annual Candlelight Vigil to remember the lives taken by family and domestic violence.
The vigil is observed on Domestic Violence Remembrance Day, held on the first Wednesday in May around Australia each year.
This national day of remembrance brings communities together to light a candle while they stand in solidarity to mourn the loss of lives.
Beginning at 5.30pm as night fell, speeches were given by representatives of Victoria Police, Wellington Shire Council and Gippsland Women’s Health, and a minute of silence for victims was observed. The vigil ended before 6pm.
Sadly, Wellington Shire ranks eight out of 79 local government areas for family violence call outs in the state, with Victorian Police recording 1298 call outs from January 1, 2023, to December 31, 2023.
A woman’s life has been lost every four days to family and domestic violence in Australia this year.
Further coverage of the vigil in next Tuesday’s paper.
