SPEAK OUT AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE!
Early notice that it is White Ribbon Day on Friday and that there will be a floral installation in Fremantle’s Henderson Street between the Sail&Anchor and Fremantle Markets from 9am to 1pm.
Domestic violence, mainly against women, is an abhorrent crime that has been increasing in Australia, and that needs to be stopped!
Roel Loopers
LEIGH STRAW BOOK LAUNCH AT NATIONAL HOTEL
Fremantle Notre Dame University lecturer Leigh Straw has published another non-fiction book Lillian Armfield. It will be launched on Tuesday March 27 at 6pm at the National Hotel.
Lillian Armfield was the first female police officer in Sydney in a time were gender equality was not exactly the priority of the day, so the book will reveal her achievements and struggles.
Roel Loopers
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WOMEN DESERVE AND DEMAND RESPECT
The Fremantle Network at the National Hotel last night debated the unacceptable high instances of sexual attacks on women in clubs, pubs and during music events.
Rebecca Snedden and Will MacDonald of Safer Venues WA spoke about the need to raise awareness, collaborate with venues, the alarming statistics of prevalence of harassment on women, and what kind of harassment it is and what causes it.
Safer Venues WA did an online survey in which 80% of female participants reported harassment, unsolicited sexual comments, verbal harassment, non consensual touching, and intimidation by men in venues in Perth and Fremantle.
Of the women who participated in the survey 42% had left a venue because of harassment, but most of them had not reported it to the venue management.
Steps are being taken to address this in venues with better staff and security staff training, signage in venues, that victims coming forward will be believed, better gender balance of security people, musicians calling out from stage to respect women, etc.
It is also important for other people to call out unacceptable behaviour. It just takes one to step between a woman who is harassed and the perpetrator and to take her away from him.
Community lawyer Kate Davis said that only 15% of sexual attacks are reported to police and from that only 10% make it to court. Australia has an incredibly low rate of convictions for sexual assault, to the point that it has become a concern for the United Nations.
Often women who have complained about sexual assault are character assassinated in court and hence most don’t bother to report the crime because of the humiliation they face.
Western Australia has the highest rate of domestic violence in Australia and it has been growing alarmingly I read a couple of weeks ago, which is a clear indication that far too many men do not respect women and don’t treat them as equals. That is not on.
Here my message to men who don’t know how to behave toward women:
It is not manly, macho or blokey to assault women physically or verbally. It’s what cowards do, and it is a criminal offence!
Women don’t ask for it because they are dressed sexy, and you have no reason whatsoever to believe that they dress up for you to touch them, attack them, or insult them.
When you buy a women a drink you don’t buy the right to her body.
To make absolutely sure there are no confusing messages, let the woman take the initiative. If she wants to get to know you better and more intimately she will let you know in no uncertain terms. But even when she kisses and cuddles you she might still not want to have sex with you, so chill, relax and treat her with respect!
Roel Loopers
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SAD FREMANTLE REMINDER OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
There is a very important reminder in front of the Fremantle Shipwrecks Museum about the unacceptable high numbers of domestic violence in Australia, so go and check it out and spread the word through social media!
Although just about everyone should understand that domestic violence, mainly against women, is not acceptable, the statistics show the numbers have actually increased in Australia in recent years. We need to put a stop to that!
50,000 incidents of family and domestic violence were reported last year in WA. That is outrageous!
If you observe domestic violence report it, because the victims are often too frightened to do it themselves.
Roel Loopers
WOMEN’S HEALTH AND WELLBEING DAY
A reminder for my second most favourite creatures on the planet-women- that the Fremantle Women’s Health&Wellbeing Day 2017 will be held at the Fremantle Townhall this Tuesday October 10 from 10 am to 1 pm.
It is an event for World Mental Health Day.
In case you wonder what my favourite creatures on earth are. Babies, because they make my heart melt, and I am such a softy . ; >)
Roel Loopers
Vote Roel for City Ward!
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WOMEN URGED TO GET ON BOARD
For all the great Fremantle women who would like to get involved, but don’t know how, the State Government has set up OnBoard WA.
It is a register where you can express your interest to be appointed on a government board, committee, or advisory body, so check it out!
Member for Fremantle Simone McGurk published an article in the West Australian about it today, so contact her office if you want to know more about it.
I am one of the lucky blokes who was raised in a family with three strong sisters and an amazing mother, and throughout my life have had the pleasure, and the challenge ; >) , of being in love and living with strong, independent women.
It is not acceptable that commercial boards are stacked with men, and only a minute number of women are appointed to them. Even our governments don’t do very well in appointing women to senior positions. It’s time the macho Aussie image changed!
Roel Loopers
VOTE ROEL FOR CITY WARD!
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ST PAT’S LONGER SUPPORT FOR WOMEN
A very important message from the St Patrick’s Community Support Centre:
It’s with a mix of optimism and gratitude that we announce that St. Pat’s Sisters’ Place will be transitioning from a short-term accommodation option to a medium-term service for women.
This decision was made in response to the growing need for medium term accommodation for women in the Fremantle area.
In the new service, women will be able to stay in the accommodation for up to 12 months, working with case workers to get their lives back on track.
Emergency, short-term accommodation will be continued to be offered by St. Pat’s Street To Home and Emergency Relief programs.
As Sisters’ Place transitions into its new role, we’d like to thank all the volunteers who have so faithfullly served the community over the last seven years. From all of us here at St. Pat’s, thank you.
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EQUALITY IS RESPECT FOR WOMEN
It is International Women’s Day today, so a good opportunity to celebrate all the great and strong women all over the world.
In Fremantle we are lucky to be represented in State Parliament by Simone McGurk and Lyn McLaren, and we have three female Councillors in Hannah Fitzhardinge, Ingrid Waltham and Rachel Pemberton.
W.A very first female Senator Dorothy Tangny is recognised in a mural at the Norfolk Hotel.
Notre Dame University is also lead by a female Vice Chancellor Celia Hammond and the Fremantle Chamber of Commerce CEO is Olwyn Williams.
There is an abundance of wonderful, strong women in Fremantle who are community leaders in their own right.
Equality remains a dream unfortunately when women still get paid less than men and the top positions in Australia are predominantly occupied by men. That needs to change!
I am not a fan of quotas though because I believe women can make it on their own merit. Quotas are a bit of tokenism to make political parties, or governments look good.
I do recognise however that it is difficult for women to climb the corporate and political ladders when the majority of decision-makers are men.
Today is a day for women to celebrate their achievements and for men to contemplate why women are still not treated the same in 2017 and why there is still so much domestic violence against women.
We need to do a whole lot better and that starts with one simple word. RESPECT!
Roel Loopers
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FREMANTLE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY
It is International Women’s Day on Wednesday and the City of Fremantle celebrates it with author Mihaela Nicolescu who will be sharing emotionally charged encounters into women living on the edge.
It is on at the Fremantle Library from 6-7.30 pm on March 8.
Roel Loopers
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