BackBendigo candlelight vigil to honour victims of family violence
The Loddon Consortium for Gender Equality & Violence Prevention (the Consortium) is holding a candlelight vigil on National Domestic Violence Remembrance Day, Wednesday 7 May 2025.
1 May 2025
The vigil will pay tribute to the women and children who have lost their lives to family and domestic violence, and those have experienced or been impacted by it. The vigil will take place in Rosalind Park, adjacent to the Conservatory Gardens (opposite Grill’d), commencing at 6pm. The vigil is open to everyone to attend and is a free event.
National Domestic Violence Remembrance Day is held annually on the first Wednesday of May, as part of Domestic Violence Prevention Month. Vigils are being held across Australia to remember individuals who have died and raise awareness about the impact of family violence.
In 2024, 103 women and 20 children lost their lives to family and domestic violence in Australia. We also recognise that there are those whose lives have been lost to domestic violence who may not yet be known. Their lives matter and we recognise and honour their story.
The vigil is an opportunity to honour and remember these individuals. Attendees will have the opportunity to write a short message acknowledging those who have died, and the courage of all victim survivors.
The Consortium acknowledges the strength and resilience of survivors of family violence. Family violence is a structural and social issue that significantly impacts women and children, families and communities. We recognise the courage of victim survivors, along with the dedicated workers responding to family violence.
Trained staff will be available for anyone who requires further support or needs assistance accessing services.
The Consortium is a partnership of five specialist gender-based violence organisations across the Loddon area:
- Centre for Non-Violence (CNV)
- Annie North Women’s Refuge
- Centre Against Sexual Assault Central Victoria (CASACV)
- Women’s Health Loddon Mallee
- Sunbury and Cobaw Community Health.
The Consortium provides integrated regional programs and services for victim survivors of family and sexual violence, men who use violence towards family members, and works to prevent gendered violence.
If you, or someone you know is experiencing family violence, or you are concerned about your behaviour towards your family, help is available.
In any emergency call: 000
Centre for Non-Violence: (free call) 1800 884 292
The Orange Door Loddon: (free call) 1800 512 359
Safe Steps: (24/7 statewide service) 1800 015 188
Centre Against Sexual Assault Central Victoria: (03) 5441 0431
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For all media enquiries, contact Rachel Dale, Media and Communications Lead at CNV via [email protected] or 0488 991 978.