A grave concern
A grave concern
November 01, 2006
Section: News
NOTHING could be more poignant than the sight of an empty pair of shoes belonging to someone who has died.
When those shoes belong to someone who has been murdered the sight gains even greater significance.
What if those shoes represent a woman who has been murdered within her own home by someone closest to her?
A staggering average of 77 women are killed by their partners each year in Australia.
This terrible fact and shocking statistic has led to a special exhibition of 77 pairs of shoes at Stockland, Shellharbour to be launched on October 30.
Australia is definitely saying no to violence against women and to prove this, famous Australians are doing their bit to stop domestic violence by sending their shoes to Shellharbour City next week.
Celebrities, politicians and sports stars from Bert Newton to Alexander Downer and Cathy Freeman have handed over their favourite pair of shoes for the week-long Seventy7 Pairs of Shoes exhibition being staged by Shellharbour City Council, the YWCA and Stockland Shellharbour.
Shellharbour City Councils Group Manager, Community Services & Development, Linda Campbell, said the exhibition takes its name from the 77 partner homicides recorded in Australia in 2003 and is aimed at highlighting the issue of domestic violence by encouraging the community to think about its impact.
The exhibition was put together by YWCA Adelaide and uses the shoes of leading Australians to convey the messages of standing up against violence and walking away from violent relationships, she said.
Each pair of shoes will be displayed with a personal message from the owner such as the one from television presenter Andrew Denton who wrote, No one should live under anyone elses heel!
The exhibition is touring Australia and will be on show in stores throughout Stockland Shellharbour from 30 October to 3 November 2006. A map detailing store display locations will be available from an exhibition information stand in Centre Court.
Stockland Shellharbour Marketing Manager, Michelle Clark said Stockland was pleased to be co-hosting the exhibition.
The event will help uncover the extent of domestic violence and highlight the community support networks available to those affected
By domestic violence, " she said.