THE Dungog-Clarence Town Country Women’s Association (CWA) will be hosting a domestic violence prevention seminar on Tuesday 19 August.
Presented by educator Michael Jeh, the talk will be held at the CWA Hall on Dowling Street in Dungog.
The event is part of an educational program created by domestic violence advocacy group, Small Steps 4 Hannah.
The foundation was started after the 2020 triple murder of Hannah Clarke and her three children at the hands of their husband and father Rowan Baxter, who also took his own life.
The session aims to empower members of the community to recognise the early warning signs of coercive control, and to help prevent domestic violence occurring.
The CWA is hoping that by giving this cause a platform in the area, it may help people identify if a friend or family member is a victim of domestic violence.
Dungog-Clarence Town CWA president Helene Leane said, “Domestic violence isn’t an openly discussed topic in society, so us CWA ladies have discussed amongst ourselves and want to do something to raise awareness of the issue.”
The CWA has reached out to community groups such as the Dungog Shire Community Centre to contribute their resources.
“We have organised with the Community Centre to have a counsellor present at these talks.
“We hope that this helps people who may be stirred up by the content.
“Or it may help a woman who attends, who is suffering in silence, to get help.”
The event is free to attend and will run from 11am – 1pm on 19 July.
Those who would like to RSVP can email cwasecdct@gmail.com.
By Joseph RICHARDS
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I suffered from isolated Domestic Violence
Since 2009 until 2021 when I finally could break free in between that time. I had lost pretty much every part of self-esteem I have. I lost my kids because of the brutal violence and every bit of hope to completely break free and live a happy life. since then I I pick myself back up and studied and got qualifications behind domestic violence family violence etc. And I have been supporting all events to promote DOMESTIC VIOLENCE as part of my strength strategy to completely overcome what one I’d enjoiured in that time in the forever trauma and triggers I’d love to be part of this event in some form or way