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General News

16 May, 2024

Zonta’s signs for safety

“Do you feel safe?” That’s a question women across Maryborough will see, on signs pasted behind the doors of ladies’ toilets in various businesses, organisations and public facilities. The displays form part of a push by the Zonta Club of...

By Prealene Khera

Zonta’s Jane Martin and Bronwen Haywood have been busy putting up signs in multiple spots including at the Maryborough Paramount Theatre.
Zonta’s Jane Martin and Bronwen Haywood have been busy putting up signs in multiple spots including at the Maryborough Paramount Theatre.

“Do you feel safe?”

That’s a question women across Maryborough will see, on signs pasted behind the doors of ladies’ toilets in various businesses, organisations and public facilities.

The displays form part of a push by the Zonta Club of Central Goldfields to support victims of domestic violence — a crime that disproportionately affects women.

Following on from the question are statements affirming what a “healthy relationship” looks like, emphasing that “they are not based on fear or control”.

For those who resonate with the messaging, there’s a QR code available to scan at the bottom of the posters that will direct people to the Orange Door website, which has an in-built quick exit button.

Rollout of the project comes after successful outcomes were recorded in parts of the country by other Zonta clubs, according to its local chapter’s Bronwen Haywood.

“We’ve borrowed this initiative from a conference we attended in 2019 and it was all about making life better for women and girls,” she said.

“It’s been in the works since then — we wanted to get a simple sign with the right text and layout so it is eye-catching and potentially helps the viewer think about their or a loved ones’ situation.

“I think this is a much needed initiative, especially because of what’s already happened this year with the deaths of so many women and everybody should be able to be safe.”

As of April 30, 28 women have died due to gender-based violence, according to estimates gathered by Counting Dead Women Australia.

Out of the 28, three were locals from Ballarat and surrounds, including Hannah McGuire from Clunes — whose alleged murder devastated the community.

With these harrowing incidents pushing Zonta to action, the club, with a $1000 grant from the Central Goldfields Shire Council, reached out to multiple businesses to be part of the project.

More than 30 organisations have been approached, and Zonta is encouraging other businesses that haven’t been contacted or that are yet to respond, to get in touch with the group and reserve free signs for their respective female toilets.

“We don’t have the woman-power to ask every group so it’d be great if they could express their interest to us and we can send them the signs,” Ms Haywood said.

“We’re also hoping to print more depending on the amount of requests we get.

“It’s worthwhile getting involved in this initiative and I hope more businesses sign up.”

Interested organisations can contact Zonta via email on zonta.centralgoldfields@gmail.com to participate.

For those affected by domestic violence, face-to-face, telephone and email support is available at The Orange Door Maryborough — for more information visit www.orangedoor.vic.gov.au or call 1800-512-359.

People can also walk in to the network’s local centre at 75 Clarendon Street, between Monday and Friday from 9 am to 5 pm.

The QR Code for The Orange Door as presented on the signs.
Zonta’s Jane Martin and Bronwen Haywood have been busy putting up signs in multiple spots including at the Maryborough Paramount Theatre.
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