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AN invitation on behalf of the North East has been extended to Australian of the Year Rosie Batty in the hope she will visit to give women who have suffered from domestic violence hope and courage.
It is hoped Ms Batty, pictured, will attend a family violence conference to be held in Benalla in May.
Regional Integration Co-ordinator for Family Violence at Women’s Health Goulburn North East, Tammy Smith, said a visit from Ms Batty would give people a chance to hear first hand from someone who had experienced family violence.
“I guess it’s two-fold, it gives more courage and more space for women to access services and know they will be taken seriously and all measures will be taken to protect them,” Mrs Smith said.
“It also assist all of the services for them to hear first-hand how we can best support women and children experiencing family violence.”
A Border mother who has experienced family violence said a chance to meet Ms Batty would be “unbelievable”.
“I can’t think of a word to describe her, I’m just in awe of her,” she said.
“I never knew there were domestic violence workers because I was kept isolated and it’s hard to leave because you are so alone.
“I think for a lot of women out there who are trying to escape a violent home, having someone like Rosie come up would give them that bit of confidence or strength to go through with it.”
Executive officer at Women’s Health Goulburn North East, Susie Reid, said Ms Batty gave recognition to decades worth of work.
“It is wonderful to see it is now finally being recognised and governments are doing something about it,” Ms Reid said.
“It is celebrating what we have all been working at for years and years and banging our heads against the wall to get people to take the situation seriously, and now it’s being taken for the crime it is.”