Members of the Young Domestic and Family Violence Reference Group are encouraging residents to take part in an upcoming walk against domestic and family violence.
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The walk, planned for Friday, November 22, is aimed to spark huge awareness of domestic and family violence in Young and surrounds, with a family fun day and guest speakers following the walk at Anderson Park.
Naomi Peters, member of the Young Domestic and Family Violence Reference Group, hopes a massive turn out will help send a strong message that "we don't condone this".
"We're saying Hilltops says no to any type of domestic and family violence at all. Anyone can be perpetrator, anyone can be a victim, and we stand together in support of those people," she said.
"It's more about as a community taking a stand and recognising that it's everyone's responsibility not just a once a year thing. It's up to everyone to keep a look out and speak up if things are wrong. Don't be an idle bystander. This is the first year we've done a walk. We decided to get really active and make a lot of noise and have the family fun day afterwards to raise as much awareness as possible.
"We'll be on the sidewalk with placards and banners and making a bit of noise as we go."
Schools, police and various emergency services have received invitation to participate in the walk, which begins at the corner of the Boorowa Street and Clarke Street about 9.45am.
They will make their way east on Boorowa Street towards Lynch Street, then north along Lynch Street to Anderson Park for the family fun day. There'll be a barbecue lunch, market stalls, face-painting and a jumping castle.
"It's just a day for the community to come together and really support each other and say 'no we don't condone this'," Naomi Peters said.
Lindt siege survivor and mental health and wellbeing advocate Selina Win Pe will be a guest speaker, sharing messages of truth, resilience, self-worth, hope and community.
In recent months, Selina has drawn immense strength from her visits to regional and rural Australia, she says.
Her new-found connection with farmers in particular has reminded her of her rural Indian childhood.
She says she wants to help others recover from hardship and dark places, and life after the siege has enabled her to give back and support the people of rural and remote Australia.
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