Leading up to the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, the Zonta Club of Mitchell is knitting orange squares to sew together to create bright orange blankets to wrap around some of the trees in the Mitchell Shire.
The Club wants the Yarn Bombing project to be the catalyst that encourages the community to stop and recognise the early warning signs of family violence.
Zonta Club of Mitchell President Robin Audehm said it’s important because it reminds the community that the Mitchell Shire has an alarming level of family violence.
“It raises awareness that family violence is all around us, and people who are facing family violence [can access] support within the community in a number of different places,” she said.
Ms Audehm said the 2023 campaign drew attention to the organisations who could provide a safety net for women and children.
“The wool will represent a warm and supportive environment for people who have been victims of family violence,” she said.
#zontasaysno is the staunch advocacy hashtag for the Club, however, it’s their generous acts of service and community education that makes a felt difference to victims and survivors.
Such actions include the assemblement of dignity bags and trauma packs for women and children who have left their homes and possessions to escape family violence.
The dignity bags contain essential toiletries, and the trauma packs contain pencils and colouring books for children.
Recently, the Club arranged a ‘DV safe phone’ drop box at the Broadford Community Living and Learning Centre.
The ‘DV safe phone’ box is a secure place for the community to dispose of their old mobile phone handsets. There is no cost, and it’s also an environmentally friendly way to discard old phones. The phones are then shipped to Queensland to be refurbished and repaired before they are given to women fleeing domestic violence.
If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 000.
Volunteers are welcome to contribute to the yarn bombing campaign. To get involved, email zontaclubmitchell@gmail.com.
