Helping children view the police in a positive light has been the motivation for one Albury officer to create a positive event linked to an international anti-violence movement.
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Albury Senior Constable Debra Milnes, who was the NSW Police 2018 domestic violence practitioner of the year, has been among the community members to drive the Family Festival.
"Police working in the community see vulnerable children in certain situations, and their reactions when police attend," she said.
"We wanted to create a day where they are comfortable and see police in a happy environment.
"Some of them here today aren't living with their family, so we can create a special day for them.
"It's also just a happy day for kids to be involved in."
Senior Constable Milnes spoke with many of the 100-plus children and adults attending the event at the Albury Botanic Gardens.
It was one of 14 official events on the Border linked with the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence, and involved members of the committee behind Step Out Against Violence, which took place for the third year on November 23.
"That's one of our major events and that's been a really positive awareness campaign," Senior Constable Milnes said.
"We've had a calendar of events come out and there's been many things happening across both Albury and Wodonga, bringing the two cities together."
Steph Baker, who is passionate about mental health and is undertaking a certificate four to work in that field, was among those involved in Step Out this year.
"I do a lot of social media about my story with mental health, and was invited to join the committee after I put out a video about my journey," she said.
"I'm very proud to be on the committee.
"The symbol of Step Out is stepping out from behind closed doors, and part of that is speaking about what's behind those doors."
Ms Baker is among the many community members whose lives have been touched by domestic and family violence.
"It's very empowering to have a voice," she said.
"You can't change the world, but you can change the world for one person."
Molly Alexander said the family festival had been made possible by the goodwill of community groups and business people like Rotary Club of Lavington, Steve Bowen, and Dane Williams.
"I work collaboratively with Deb in the domestic violence area and I remember sitting and having coffee one day and her saying 'why not make an opportunity for families to spend quality time together?'," she said.
"It's a beautiful way to finish the 16 days.
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"We've had some great conversations and that's what it's about; making sure this topic is spoken about and we share the responsibility of stopping violence in our community, especially gender-based violence."
The campaign runs annually from November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and runs until December 10, Human Rights Day.
Wodonga Council's program of events has included the Community Walk Against Family Violence, conversations with Phil Cleary, a cross-border issues forum and rainbow story time.