A massive crowd of people marched on Young's Boorowa Street on Friday morning yelling "Hilltops says no" to raise awareness of domestic and family violence across the region.
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It was the first walk of its kind to be held in Young and has been hailed a success by organisers from the Domestic and Family Violence Reference Group, who were thrilled by the turnout.
The walk started at 9.45am at the intersection of Boorowa Street and Clarke Street, turned left at Lynch Street and finished at Anderson Park for a few speeches and a family fun day.
Lindt siege survivor Selina Win Pe spoke about her experience of overcoming trauma by connecting with regional communities and promoting wellbeing.
"I started to get a really big pull to the country, country communities. I have now travelled 30,000kms on my own during the last several months since March. I've now met 55 of 70 country mayors of NSW," she said.
"I'm here in great honour and so proud to be a part of this conversation. I say no to family and domestic violence."
Inspector Jacob Reeves of Young Police outlined some criminal forms of domestic and family violence including physical violence, sexual assault, stalking, property damage, threats, sharing intimate images without consent, and offences as serious as homicide.
He added that other other forms of domestic and family violence, whilst not always categorised as criminal offences, can be just as harmful.
"Including the use of controlling behaviours which may cause the person to live in fear, to suffer emotional or psychological torment, financial deprivation or social isolation," he said.
"The reality is a person's home should be a place of respite, not a place of fear. An intimate or family relationship is not a ticket to control somebody, it's not a ticket or a licence to make a person's life a misery. A domestic or intimate relationship with somebody isn't a form of ownership.
"If difficult moments, financial stress, separation, addiction or mental illness make a domestic relationship potentially volatile, seek professional help to address these issues so a non-violent outcome can be achieved."
Mayor Brian Ingram encouraged residents to "speak out" in an effort to stamp out all types of violence.
"Today I ask the community to continue to speak out against family and domestic violence so that we can help make sure every member of our community is safe," he said.
Organisers hope it becomes an annual event.
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