Sunday morning by the river is the place to be for locals and tourists in Noosa – a perfect opportunity to spread awareness of the risks, impact and dangers of gender-based violence as part of Zonta International’s 16 Days of Activism campaign against gender-based violence.

Held annually by the Zonta Club of Noosa, this year’s event attracted State and local Council representatives, Zonta members and supporters and local media, with more men attending this year than ever. Zonta Noosa President, Robyn O’Neill said, “to end violence against women we need to challenge attitudes that perpetuate, rationalise and normalise that violence and deny women’s rights to safety. Shifting behaviours is hard and slow but gender equality means all of us and working with all genders is the only way to see true change. We need the men to stand beside the women all the way. While men can be victims as well, they are overwhelmingly the perpetrators of gender based violence.“

After a week chairing public hearings held by the Youth Justice Reform Select Committee, Noosa MP Sandy Bolton told the group what she had heard taught her much more than a discussion was needed. “What we’ve seen in households across Queensland – it starts right there. It’s all interconnected. The children who are coming out of those households – it is deeply disturbing that we haven’t broken the cycle and we have so much more to do.

“What we have found is there’s a lack of communication to the assistance available and also the early interventions that happen right in our schools. Just about every witness I’ve heard this week has said it takes a community, it takes a society. It’s not just up to government or one person, it takes all of us.

“I ask you to spread the word that there is help and within the homes to reach out. If you don’t know who to reach out to call council, call myself, call somebody and we will connect you. And I encourage you to follow Zonta on Facebook.“