Charlotte Varcoe
LIVES lost at the hands of domestic violence will be remembered once again as the Limestone Coast Family Violence Group hosts the annual candle lighting ceremony.
Alongside Uniting Communities, the annual event will allow others to pay their respects to those who have lost their lives due to domestic violence.
A total of 12 lives have already been lost across the nation this year due to the issue with 56 women killed by family or domestic violence in 2022.
The family violence group hosts this event each year as part of a National Day of Remembrance while raising awareness of the impact of domestic violence, the lives lost and the families torn apart.
Limestone Coast Family Violence Group secretary Katherine Davies said the group focused on creating annual events to make sure it was consistent in the community’s mind and to remind people of the significant issues that family and domestic violence can cause.
“By holding this event every year and vigils like this it gives us time to take a moment and remember the lives lost to such a tragedy,” Ms Davies said.
“First and foremost the people who have lost their lives are humans, not victims and they are people who have loved and have been loved, they are people with passions, families, friends and absolutely should be remembered for the perfect person they are and not what had happened to them.”
According to Ms Davies, early conversations was key to preventing domestic violence with programs being rolled out in schools to help educate young people and even perpetrators of violence.
“It is really about getting the idea out there into people about the red flags to keep an eye out for and it can be just those really small things,” she said.
“Coercive control is a big phrase being used now and people are starting to learn more and more about it and we can see that as being the beginning of violent relationships.”
Millicent woman Synamin Bell, who lost her life in an alleged domestic violence incident last year, was being remembered by her sisters who described her as someone with a “bubbly, lovely and helpful” personality.
“Every memory with Synamin was amazing and we could not pick one as our best memory,” her sisters said.
“Anything that involved her was beautiful and we cherish every moment purely because she was there.”
Synamin’s sisters said if they could say anything to her now, they would welcome her home with open arms and they were surprised they had survived this long without her.
“Synamin was so bubbly, lovely and helpful and she made an incredible impact on everyone she met,” they said.
The sisters said it was extremely painful to lose someone but others who are grieving need to remember they are not alone.
“There is no way it gets easier because you learn to live with the pain but we also keep remembering them as they were not how they left us.”
Ms Davies said those who were concerned could contact 1800-RESPECT at anytime during the day or apply to the domestic violence disclosure scheme through SA Police.
“People can put in why they think there might be some suspicious behaviours and potentially dangerous behaviour in the relationship and that could be your own relationship or a family or friend’s,” Ms Davies said.
“We also have the Limestone Coast Domestic Violence Service run through Centacare.” The candlelit vigil will be held at the verandah at the Mount Gambier Library on May 3 beginning at 5.30pm.
Those needing urgent assistance or are concerned for your safety, please contact Emergency Services 000, 1800 RESPECT or the Domestic Violence Crisis Line 1800 800 098 for assistance and support.
