Domestic violence in our community will not be tolerated. That was the message that local community groups Yoorana Gunya and Binaal Billa wanted to share on Ochre Ribbon Day.
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The Ochre Ribbon Campaign was established by the Western Australian Aboriginal Family Law Service who identified the need for a ribbon that can be symbolic to Aboriginal people who are survivors of domestic and family violence.
Yoorana Gunya and Binaal Billa have hosted Ochre Ribbon Day in Forbes for the last few years to raise awareness about family violence.
The day is also supported in Ochre Ribbon Week which usually runs from February 12 to February 19. Ochre Ribbon Week is an Indigenous-led campaign which raises awareness of the impacts of domestic and family violence in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Ochre Ribbon Day is observed across the country usually on February 13.
Due to Covid-related concerns earlier this year, Yoorana Gunya and Binaal Billa decided to observe Ochre Ribbon Day on Wednesday, November 4 instead.
Binaal Billa Program Coordinator Debbie Gaudi said they needed to recognise and mark Ochre Ribbon Day this year.
"It needed to happen because we needed to show recognition. and in that way the Ochre Ribbon itself is not in vain," she said.
"In general, if you hear something, see something, know something report it. Otherwise domestic family violence and sexual assault will never be in the community eye the way that it's meant to. If we do nothing, nothing happens."
Ms Gaudi said they plan to host Ochre Ribbon Day on its usual date - February 13, again next year.
Family violence is a problem in every race, religion, age, gender and community. In an emergency, phone 000.
Binaal Billa Family Violence Prevention Legal Service and Yoorana Gunya are among a number of community organisations that can support victims of family violence.
Binaal Billa is in Spring Street and can be contacted on 1800 700 218. Yoorana Gunya Family Healing Centre is in Church Street and can be contacted on 6850 1222.
