Blue Mountains residents will take to the streets of Springwood on Friday, October 25, for the annual Reclaim the Night march and rally to demand an end to violence against women and children.
Meeting at the Springwood Town Square from 3.30pm, there will be banner and badge making and a barbecue before the march begins at 5pm. Attendees will walk up and back Macquarie Street, ending with a rally at the Town Square.
The Reclaim the Night march is presented by the Blue Mountains Coalition Against Violence and Abuse and the Blue Mountains Women’s Health and Resource Centre and supported by Blue Mountains City Council.
Reclaim the Night is the prelude to Council’s annual 16 Days of Action campaign, which features a calendar of community events that promote an end to violence against women and children. This year, 16 Days of Action begins 25 November with the annual Mayoral Breakfast Against Gender-based Violence and goes to 10 December 2024.
The first Reclaim the Night march was held in England in 1977, where women marched for their right to move safely through public spaces at night. The movement has continued to grow internationally ever since, with Australia’s first Reclaim the Night event held in 1978. Despite the march’s long history, it remains extremely relevant today.
Blue Mountains Mayor, Mark Greenhill said, “When faced with a problem as complex and tragic as violence against women is, we may ask ourselves, ‘What difference will marching make?’ I assure you; it can make a great difference.
“Fifty years ago, Australian women first marched against domestic violence. That march kickstarted a movement that saw the first women and children's domestic violence refuge, women’s health centre and sexual assault services open that same year.
“Please march with us at Reclaim the Night and continue to make a difference to the lives of Blue Mountains women and children.
“Council continues to work towards our goal of an inclusive and gender equitable city through our Domestic and Family Violence Mayoral Advisory Committee, enacting our Gender Equity Strategy, supporting the exceptional work our Blue Mountains community service organisations do, through our 16 Days of Action campaign and by supporting important community events like Reclaim the Night.”
For more information and to register your attendance at Reclaim The Night go to http://www.bmwhrc.org/service-page/reclaim-the-night-2024.
Joining the Reclaim the Night march and rally is just one way you can support the safety of Blue Mountains women and children. A full calendar of events will be unveiled for Council’s 16 Days of Action in November, including the Riding Free From DV fundraiser for domestic violence charities to be held in Megalong Valley on Saturday, November 23.
Troy has more than 20 years experience as a journalist, working with some of Australia's leading media organisations. In 2023, he was named Editor of the Year at the Mumbrella Publish Awards.