THE horrific murder of Ora Holt on Anzac Day has rocked the Wangaratta community and, indeed, the entire North East region.
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The thought that a mother could be gunned down by her husband while trying to protect her children is truly chilling.
Tragically, it’s not a scene from a horror movie. No, in reality, it’s the third time a female has been violently killed in the North East over the past 18 months, following the deaths of Wangaratta 11-year-old Zoe Buttigieg in October 2015 and Whorouly’s Karen Chetcuti in January last year.
It’s a national disgrace that, on average, one woman every week in Australia will be killed by a current or former partner. The blood-curdling reality of that statistic particularly hits home when it happens on our doorstep.
There’s no easy way to report on a tragedy such as this but we owe it to the likes of Rosie Batty, who has been an inspirational anti-violence campaigner, to ensure Ora’s death isn’t in vain.
We can’t let this keep on happening. We need to keep driving that message home to our sons and brothers and fathers. Violence against women never has been, and never will be, OK.
From the outside, it may have appeared Greg Floyd was a “loving father” but what’s beyond doubt is his actions on Tuesday tell a drastically different story.
This was murder. And it cannot be overlooked.
American priest Theodore Hesburgh has been widely credited with saying: “the most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother”.
Of course, the opposite is true and it’s equally important that love and respect flows both ways. The trouble is, there haven’t been too many cases of women murdering men in this part of the world.
There’s no doubt the majority of men in our community are good men. That’s why it’s so important to take a stand against this kind of abuse.
What good man, in his right mind, is happy to live in a society where one in three women will experience physical or sexual violence by someone known to them over their lifetime?
Just as the beautiful rural city of Wangaratta has been over-represented in the national news over the past year and a half, the shocking statistics for violence against women in Australia are completely unacceptable.
- If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault or family violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit www.1800RESPECT.org.au - In an emergency, call 000.