A community stand against family violence drew significant support in Wodonga on Wednesday.
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An estimated 200 people turned out in the summer sunshine for the Community Walk Against Family Violence, which weaved its way through the city centre.
Wodonga police stopped traffic to allow the walk to proceed through town.
The walk is one of a series being held throughout the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, a global campaign that emphasises how such violence is against human rights.
The first Border event was a talk two weeks ago by former VFL footballer and federal independent Parliamentarian Phil Cleary, a long-time advocate of changing attitudes towards women to bring about equality and to stop violence.
The walk was organised by Junction Support Services, the Salvation Army and the Department of Health and Human Services.
It began at St Stephen’s Uniting Church and traveled down High Street before finishing at Junction Square with a community barbecue.
Walkers included representatives from Wodonga police, St Stephen’s Uniting Church, Centre Against Violence, Business Wodonga, Mungabareena Aboriginal Corporation, Beyond Housing, Rotary, the Bhutanese Australian Community Support Group, headspace, Hume Riverina Community Legal Service and Restart.
Guest speakers were Inspector Joy Arbuthnot and Business Wodonga president Graham Jenkin, who spoke in honour of a former colleague who was killed by her ex-boyfriend.
Wodonga Mayor Anna Speedie, Deputy Mayor Kat Bennet and unsuccessful Benambra candidates Jacqui Hawkins and Mark Tait were among the walkers.
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