On Wednesday night, 7 May, the city of Ipswich came together to march in remembrance of the women and children who have lost their lives to domestic violence.

Hundreds gathered in Nicholas Street—women, men, and children—calling for justice and demanding an end to this crisis. There was a shared sense of grief, anger, and urgency as the community marched together for change.

As the march ended, the crowd fell silent. Candles were lit, glowing in memory of the lives taken—not as statistics, but as people with dreams, families, and futures stolen by violence. The vigil was a powerful reminder: in Australia, one woman is killed every week due to domestic violence. That is not okay. This must change.

We were honoured to be part of the event and to share our voices. Together, we spoke about the pain we’ve seen loved ones endure, and the silence that too often surrounds survivors—the shame, the blame, the question, “Why didn’t you just leave?” As Stephanie said, “They survived because they were lucky. But they shouldn’t have had to be lucky to survive in the first place.”

We shared our hope for a future where safety is a right, not a privilege. A future where survivors are heard and supported, abusers are held accountable, and prevention is the goal—not reaction.

We spoke about the importance of recognising red flags in relationships and the courage it takes to call them out. As Riley said, “We have to call out these red flags, even when it’s uncomfortable, even when it comes from someone we know. Because if we don’t, we allow it to grow. Prevention starts with truth.”

The night ended with a moving healing ceremony by The Native Network, where the names of those lost to domestic violence in 2024 were read aloud. Leaves were placed on an archway to symbolise each life, and people quietly reflected on the stories they heard.

We left feeling the impact this event had on our community—ready to acknowledge the problem and be part of the solution. As Riley said, “Because love shouldn’t have to hurt.”

Haydn Ryan, Riley McCormack and Stephanie Acton