THE local community united in Cleveland to honour seven women tragically lost to domestic violence since July.
Last week, the Cleveland Red Rose Rally saw residents, State Member for Oodgeroo Amanda Stoker, and Red Rose Foundation CEO Brian Sullivan unite in a heartfelt tribute to the victims.
The rally paid tribute to the lives of Frances Crawford, Loyla Morgan, Debra Hunter, Rehana Parvin, Angela Haynes, Suzy Rackemann, and one undisclosed victim.
Since 2010, a Red Rose Rally has been held following the death of every Queensland woman killed due to domestic violence.
For five years, Anna McCormack has led the Cleveland Red Rose Rally, honouring women lost to domestic violence.
“In this time while the numbers of dead women have increased, what doesn’t change are the attitudes of MPs, the police and the judiciary,” she said.
“These need to change if we are to halt the numbers of women killed in DV.”
The rally, part of a state-wide movement, is now held in multiple communities, including Brisbane, Gold Coast, Ipswich, Toowoomba, Bundaberg, Mackay, Townsville, and Cairns.
Ms Stoker emphasised the importance of ensuring the women who endured these dreadful experiences were not forgotten.
She urged the community to learn from these tragedies and take action to prevent such violence from happening in the future.
“No woman deserves to be treated in that way,” Ms Stoker said. “It is up to us to do everything we can to make a difference.”
Mr Sullivan said the unfairness and senselessness of these deaths was hard to bear.
