Colour run sheds light on need to address family and domestic violence

A sea of white T-shirts soon turned to colour as hundreds of Goldfielders came together to raise awareness of the urgent need to address family and domestic violence. Mara Pirni Healing Place’s fourth 16 Days in WA Kalgoorlie Colour Run took place at the Oasis Playing Fields on Saturday. Amid the explosions of colour and squeals of laughter from children, there was a serious message behind the day. The 16 Days in WA campaign — which begins on Monday — encourages individuals, organisations, and communities to change the way they think about violence against women. The campaign’s theme will again be Play Your Part, which asks everyone to learn about family domestic violence, and the unhealthy attitudes and behaviours that drive domestic violence. FDV Hub manager Debbie Bustard said the colour run was a friendly way of getting people involved in the campaign and help spread the message. “While it’s a family friendly (event) there is a serious message behind the day,” she said. “Anything around FDV people usually stay clear, but this is a way of getting people to come and (engage).” Representatives from local agencies working in the domestic violence, legal, disability, youth, and drug and alcohol support sectors attended the event. Senior family worker Cindi Alves-Lei said the colour run provided a platform to link community members with local support agencies. “As community, we need to ... send the same message that violence is not OK,” she said. “We need to stop violence and there are support services who can help.”