People are listening to the stories of victim survivors and working together to act against domestic and family violence in Beaudesert.
At a recent candlelit vigil in Jubilee Park, locals gathered to acknowledge the tenacity and survival of victims, acknowledge those who had lost a loved one to domestic violence and share about advocacy and the need to work together.
Working together
Client Services Manager Sarah Vuzem from YFS, which organised the vigil, thanked the local Zonta, Rotary, Council, Beaucare and police for their support.
Aunty Gerry Page, who chairs the Traditional Mununjali Elders, provided a heartfelt Welcome to Country and Sarah led those gathered in a minute’s silence to remember people no longer with their loved ones due to domestic violence.
“Unfortunately, we are here tonight because so many people have had that human right to life and safety taken from them. We recognise the majority of those lives are women,” Sarah said.
“I know that domestic violence touches people’s lives in so many different ways, so I ask that you lean on your people for support and reach out to services if you need to.”
A mum tragically taken
Advocate and Beaudesert Zonta member Shayne Probert shared the story of when her mum, Doreen Langham, was killed by her ex-partner.
“See only days before I had sent a message saying, ‘I don’t like you staying there by yourself’. Sending such a message should never be necessary, yet circumstances were far from ordinary,” said Shayne.
“Just two weeks earlier, my mother had taken the brave step of putting a Domestic Violence Order against her ex-partner, as the situation had been growing increasingly alarming. An incident had occurred at her apartment complex, involving her unit which led the police needing to verify her whereabouts.
“The remaining hours of that day were spent at the police station, providing a statement, and anxiously awaiting further updates with the support of close friends. At 7:30pm, the long-awaited news arrived, news that we had hoped would never be true. My mother Doreen Langham’s body had been found alongside her ex-partners. He took it upon himself to not only take his life but mums as well.”
Shayne said continuing to speak up about domestic violence was important but challenging.
“Being a secondary victim has become a daily battle, where I tirelessly strive to alter the course of the future, or sometimes feel so broken that I can do nothing at all,” she said.
“Each time I open up about my own trauma, it’s like reliving it all over again, and afterwards, I must find a way to return to a normal life, to fulfill my role as a worker, a parent, and to maintain my own well-being. However, I also bear the weight of responsibility towards my mother, all of you, and especially my daughters. As a secondary victim, I recognize the power within me to bring about change and save the lives of those who are still suffering.”
Police express ongoing commitment
Senior Constable Heather McCulloch from the Logan District Domestic, Family Violence & Vulnerable Persons Unit said women made up the bulk of victim-survivors.
“This year’s Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month theme is: It’s in our control to end coercive control. And as we know, majority of victim-survivors experiencing domestic violence and coercive control are women,” she said.
“Abusers rely on isolating victims, degrading and exploiting them, as well as frightening and intimidating them. Coercive control can be emotional abuse, name calling, manipulation, surveillance, financial abuse and undermining a victim-survivors independence and self-worth.”
She said listening and collaboration was key.
“As a police officer, am I engaging victim-survivors and listening to their story, I am working to better understand what patterns of abuse look like because we know it is never an isolated incident. I know my colleagues in QPS are also committed to be able to better respond.
“In the Scenic Rim, we have established connections with our local DV service, YFS and we work together to engage victim-survivors in home and in their community and in a way they feel safe.
“We have DV Specialists collocating at Beaudesert, Jimboomba and Logan Village/ Yarrabilba Police stations to better respond to victim-survivors. These DV specialists provide valuable advice and insight to police along with ongoing support.
We are also working with other key agencies in our community to better understand victim-survivors experiences and hold abusers accountable. This is my ongoing commitment to our community.”
