Ochre Ribbon Week brings support services together in Geraldton to speak against family and domestic violence

Ochre Ribbon Week, which spreads the message about stopping family violence in Aboriginal communities, started on Thursday with an event hosted by Aboriginal Family Legal Services. The morning event marks the start of the week-long campaign, from February 12-19, which encourages everyone to create safe communities for elders, men, women and children. Rocks Laneway hosted several stalls, including headspace and Diverse Capacity Builders, aiming to make these services easily accessible, while staff from Ngala, Bundiyarra, and Mission Australia were present to connect with the community. Art activities and free ribbons and accessories promoting the week were also available. Steven Kelly, community engagement worker for Aboriginal Family Legal Services, said it was important to speak out against family and domestic violence, and support those who were experiencing it. “It’s awareness about right and wrong and what it looks like, and that violence isn’t the norm. So it’s trying to educate people that violence isn’t the way. It’s not within our culture,” he said. “Just by wearing an Ochre ribbon and giving those supportive messages, supporting people who have gone through domestic violence in the past, just being aware that people all around us can suffer from it.” The service is hosting two events in Geraldton, the opening took place on Marine Terrace on Thursday. The closing event will be a barbecue on February 19, held from 11am-1pm at Edith Cowan Square. Mr Kelly said it was “great to work together” with other support services in Geraldton who support victims of family and domestic violence. “There’s never a wrong door. If we can’t help them, maybe some of the other service providers can,” he said. The Ochre Ribbon Week was first commemorated in 2015, after a Meekatharra Aboriginal woman lost her life to domestic violence. Her family worked with the AFLS Kalgoorlie branch to create the ribbon as a symbol standing against family violence in the community. The colour of the ribbon represents connection to country and the campaign encourages community members to encourage and support one another. Queens Park Theatre will be lit up in orange from February 16-18. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) 13 YARN (13 92 76)