Music lovers in the North West are in for a treat when Australian country legend Troy Cassar-Daley plays live at a free concert in Mount Isa next month.
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The aim of the concert which is sponsored by the Queensland Police Service, White Ribbon and local businesses, is to create awareness and discussion around the issue of domestic and family violence,
Domestic and Family Violence Co-ordinator Sergeant Paige Barrow has organised the event which she hopes will start a conversation about the topic.
“The more we can talk about it freely, it stops it being a private issue behind closed doors and makes people more comfortable in reporting it and seeking support,” Sergeant Barrow said.
Major Jeremy Barraclough is the Chair for the Mount Isa White Ribbon committee and said one in six women experience violence from their current or ex-partner across Australia.
“In the Army a common phrase is ‘the standard you walk past is the standard you accept,’ so Matt (Sergeant Matt Ward) and I are encouraging everyone to set higher standards for ourselves,” Major Barraclough said.
“Don’t accept family or domestic violence, if you see it happening or someone affected by it offer help to the victims, listen to what they tell you and focus on them.”
Major Barraclough said the statistics around domestic violence were unacceptable and that a change in attitudes was needed.
“It’s absolutely unacceptable that every week in Australia a husband or boyfriend kills their wife or girlfriend,” he said.
“We must challenge behaviour and if others are taking sexist attitudes or making derogatory comments or encouraging violence against women, call it out.
“Being a silent bystander is unacceptable. Speak out, act out and let’s end violence against women,”
The concert is on Thursday August 17 at Buchanan Park Complex.
Gates open from 6pm with Mount Isa Emergency Services and Defence band ‘The Hoax’ starting at 6:30pm.
Troy Cassar-Daley’s performance will start 7.30pm.
Other sponsors of this event include MC Scaffold, Mount Isa Mines, Incitec Pivot Limited, Buffs Club and Securecorp.