The Zonta Club of Central Goldfields came together on Wednesday to launch the annual Zonta Flowerbed as part of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence.

The 16 Days of Activism is a worldwide gender-based campaign that aims to raise awareness and strengthen local interventions against gender-based violence.

Each year, the Zonta Club of Central Goldfields, supported by the Central Goldfields Shire Council and a number of other organisations, plant a flowerbed in Phillips Gardens to mark the 16 day campaign.

The garden showcases the letter R, symbolic of respect, and two letter Zs to signify Zonta’s involvement while members will also place an orange lady in the garden each day as a symbol of the victims of gender-based violence.

Zonta Club of Central Goldfields president Jenny Hurse said while Zonta focuses on women and girls, gender-based violence can impact anybody.

“Often females themselves don’t speak out about violence and it has been a silent pandemic, in many cases it still is and it still impacts people,” she said.

“We work towards empowering women and girls but when you say family violence, that includes everybody.

“There is certainly a higher percentage of women and girls, but men and boys are also impacted.”

Ms Hurse also said that given the challenging year everybody has had due to COVID-19, having local events as part of the 16 Days of Activism is “vital”.

“Keeping an event like this running is vital in getting the information out to people,” she said.

“There have been a lot of statistics that have come out that have said family violence has increased during the pandemic and others that have said it hasn’t.

“I think family violence is one of those things that can never be completely captured because it’s different for everyone and it can be very confronting to speak out, seek help and support.”

Zonta Club of Central Goldfields service and advocacy chair Bronwen Haywood said there are a number of ways community members can get involved in the 16 Days of Activism locally.

“I welcome the arrival of Ellie, the elephant in the room display at the Maryborough District Health Service which is an innovative way to start a conversation on the topic of family violence as a health issue,” she said.

“Another way to start a conversation is to come along to the Zonta orange fingernail paint sessions outside Simpsons Bargain Basement in High Street from 10 am to 2 pm on Thursday, December 10.”

At 11 am today, Friday November 27, the Maryborough Library will host storytime with books for young people with non-gender stereotyping and respectful relationships available at https://facebook. com/MBLibVIC.

There will also be a street art workshop at 5 pm today, with local artist Reece Hendy teaching residents how to make street art. For more information, contact Penny on 5461-0610.

An online webinar with Jess Hill, an investigative journalist who has been writing about domestic violence since 2014 will also take place next Tuesday, December 1 at 2 pm, to register your interest for the event visit https://www.eventbrite. com.au/e/a-webinar-with-jess-hill- tickets-125110006397?aff=erelpanelorg.

To end the 16 Days of Activism campaign, a family violence during COVID-19 online forum will take place from 1 until 3 pm on Wednesday, December 9.

Women’s Health Loddon Mallee are inviting women, men and gender diverse people across the region to share their experiences, feelings, observations, struggles and successes during the COVID-19 pandemic.

To participate, visit www.survey monkey.com/r/RGTXX95.