Jenan Taylor
18 April 2024
Ballarat Anglicans are grappling with how to fight gendered violence after the killings of three women triggered a wave of unease and fear in the community.
Thousands of people marched through Ballarat on Friday, calling for an end to violence against women and mourning the three victims Samantha Murphy, Hannah McGuire and Rebecca Young.
They were among 88 Australian women killed in violent incidents since January 2023, according to research group Counting Dead Women.
Ballarat churches said they needed to do more to help break the pattern of violence.
Church members said the community was uneasy, fear-filled and angry.
They said most people’s conversations centred on safety worries for themselves and for loved ones, and a growing reluctance to be in public spaces, even in daylight.
Read more: Call for churches to keep stepping up to prevent violence against women
Some parishes held public candle-light vigils, and offered individuals counselling if they wanted it, in response to the killings.
Ballarat Dean the Very Reverend Michael Davies said not enough had been done in the diocese in response to the disconcerting pattern of violence.
Father Davies said more practical action was needed beyond upholding intercessory prayers for the women and their loved ones.
He said social action, including being more vocal about zero tolerance for domestic violence, would make the church more visible and able to better engage with the wider community.
St Matthew’s Wendouree parishioner and rally participant Alison Donaldson said she wanted the church to speak up about the need for more respect for women.
Mrs Donaldson said many fellow protestors talked about how unsafe they felt on the streets even during daylight, and how afraid they were for their daughters especially.
Read more: ‘Churches are uniquely positioned to prevent, respond and heal’
She said many were frustrated that they were asking their girls to be careful and cover up, when it was many boys that needed to be better educated.
Mrs Donaldson said she hoped the church would start initiatives that did this, and which showed people that churches were safe places.
She said efforts where people felt safe to talk about what was bothering them could remind people about God’s love and the peace He offered.
Ballarat bishop’s chaplain the Reverend Chris Keast said he wanted the church to tackle the culture towards women in schools, sporting clubs and other groups.
Mr Keast said unless something was done to confront and challenge the next generation about their attitudes towards women, gender violence would keep happening.
He said the events had unearthed trauma for many parishioners who grew up in domestic abuse situations and until now believed they had put those memories behind them.
“There’s real disappointment that people are still going through it. We haven’t acted forcefully enough on this issue,” Mr Keast said.
Read more: Housing crisis forcing people to choose between their abusers and homelessness
He said offering early mental health and trauma-informed care for people trapped in degrading and violent relationships could also change the pattern.
Mr Keast said he hoped the church would also encourage people to confront gendered behaviour.
Women’s Health Grampians said calling people out helped dismantle the structures around gender inequality which was vital in helping to prevent violence.
Manager Strategy and Programs Rose Durey said WHG had received many enquiries from men’s groups and sporting clubs about how to better educate men, since the rally.
She said this was a tipping point because women had been talking about and acting on the issue for years.
Now more men were realising that violence against women was a men’s problem, Ms Durey said.
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