General News
26 November, 2024
Symbolic call for change
The Zonta Club of Central Goldfields has unveiled its symbolic flowerbed in Phillips Gardens, marking the start of an international campaign to put an end to gender-based violence and a call for locals to take a stand and call behaviour out.
The garden, which was planted and unveiled yesterday, comes in line with the commencement of the United Nations’ international 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign, which runs until December 10, marked as Human Rights Day.
Aimed at putting an end to all forms of gender-based violence, the local Zonta club has been working to raise awareness of the issue and institute change for over a decade.
“I’m filled with despair every time I hear of another incident or issue relating to gender-based violence,” the club’s president Lorraine Parsons said.
“The message for some people just does not seem to be getting through and unfortunately, overwhelmingly the victims of gender-based violence are women.
“We have to keep working and keep working harder to see real change and that change has to start with education right from the very beginning.”
That education comes in the form of eye-catching public symbolism, with the flowerbed poised to get locals thinking and, hopefully, talking.
“We know for a fact people will see the garden bed and start asking questions,” Zonta’s Bronwen Haywood said.
“It starts a crucial conversation and gets people thinking.
“That thinking needs to manifest into people calling the behaviour out, particularly men.
“You might hear derogatory or inappropriate remarks at the footy or a barbecue and it’s time people take a stand and say it’s not on.”
Zonta club members will be outside newsXpress in High Street this Friday, November 29 from 10 am until 2 pm painting fingernails orange as an act of symbolism and solidarity, and will also take to the Goldfields Reservoir on Saturday to be involved in Parkrun.
“Zonta’s aim is to make the world a better place for women and girls and if we can do a little bit here locally, that can institute change,” Ms Haywood said.
“The nail painting is another conversation starter, we paint a single nail orange and people ask ‘why have you only got one nail painted’.
“It opens the door for conversation and with it, change.”
