EACH year, thousands of Queenslanders – mostly women and children – flee their homes in fear because of family violence.
Some leave with nothing but the clothes on their backs.
Others don’t get the chance to leave at all.
Domestic and family violence is not a distant issue.
It’s happening right here in our own backyard – across the Redlands and Bayside.
The statistics are sobering, but behind each one is a human story of fear, survival, resilience, and, too often, silence.
As a community, we cannot afford to look away.
On Saturday, May 31, the 11th annual Dîner en Rouge will bring together residents, community leaders, and frontline advocates in a powerful show of solidarity.
This event, hosted by the Redland Foundation and its partners, including the Redland Bayside News, does more than raise funds – it raises awareness, lifts up survivors, and sends a clear message: We will not stand by while domestic violence continues to devastate lives.
But the fight doesn’t end with a gala or a donation.
Real change starts with us – in our homes, our schools, our sports clubs, our conversations.
It begins when we teach our sons about respect and equality.
When we check in on neighbours.
When we listen without judgment.
When we speak up, even when it’s uncomfortable.
We all have a role to play in addressing the drivers behind family violence.
Calling out disrespect and inequality is where we can all make a difference.
This year’s Dîner en Rouge will feature a panel of remarkable advocates working on the frontline: from crisis accommodation to early intervention with young men and providing dignity to women facing homelessness.
Their stories remind us that prevention is possible – and that support can be life-changing and life-
saving.
The newly launched Angela Petersen Emergency Support Fund, to be unveiled at the event, is a vital step forward.
By providing immediate financial assistance through trusted local services, it gives women and children a pathway to safety and hope.
We all have a role to play.
Whether it’s attending the event, donating to a local service, or simply educating ourselves and others – every action counts.
Change doesn’t happen in isolation.
It happens when communities, like ours, come together and say: Enough is enough.
