Today Friday 19 November communities around the western plains marked national White Ribbon Day.

In Australia, one woman a week is murdered by an intimate partner, with 247 lives lost to violence in the four years from 2017 – 2020 and a further 38 as of 8 November, 2021*. It’s a national tragedy and it needs to stop now.

On the national day of awareness and action, White Ribbon Australia is asking men to think about the changes they can make in their communities and workplaces to be part of the solution, not just on one day, but every day.

Domestic Violence is an ongoing challenge for communities around the Western Plains, with three of our communities ranked in the top five, and four in the top ten locations in New South Wales for the highest rates of reported domestic violence per head of population.

While Coonamble Shire was the state's DV hotspot in 2019/20, the distinction has reverted to Walgett Shire in 2020/21, with Coonamble now ranked 2nd, Gilgandra coming in at fourth and Narromine eighth.

However the rankings from the Bureau of Crime Statistics & Research don't tell the whole story, as larger centres with far higher recorded incidents rank lower and some rural and remote areas with lower populations - such as Bogan, Bourke, Brewarrina and Warren - being excluded.

LGAs with populations lower than 3,000 are excluded because rate calculations for these areas are very sensitive to small changes in population sizes and the number of incidents recorded.

And of course the crime figures do not capture the damage done - to individuals, children, families and whole communities - when violence takes hold in a home.

White Ribbon Australia Executive Director Brad Chilcott said turning this national tragedy around would require real, long-term social and cultural transformation.

“And it will need men to stand up and be willing to reflect on their role in making this essential change a reality,” Mr Chilcott said.

“White Ribbon Day events aren’t the cure-all solution, but people, communities and workplaces who take what they learn and put it into practice in the days, months and years ahead can transform the future we share,” he added.

The theme this year is “How Can Men Make Change?”, calling on communities to “Learn, Give, Take Action” to address the underlying attitudes that allow domestic and family violence to occur.

Across our region conversation starters and awareness raisers by schools, community groups, businesses and support agencies included white ribbon inspired flags along main streets in all Warrumbungle Shire communities, posters, signs, Coonamble cafes distributing coffee cups labelled with the distinctive White Ribbon logo, barbeques and even a competition where children took their own creative photos with White Ribbon-marked rocks.

*Adam Cohen and Damian Lee from the Clontarf Indigenous Boys Academy outside Coonamble Courthouse.

“White Ribbon Day is about your community-led approaches to changing the attitudes and social norms that excuse or condone disrespect, sexual harassment and abuse - to put in place the actions needed to bring about that change, with our support,” Mr Chilcott said.

“We have the resources to help you understand the drivers of men’s violence, harassment and abuse, along with the tools you need to stand up and be part of the change. We’ve just launched our new Resource Dashboard, ‘Learn: How Can Men Make Change’, so that all Australians can be equipped for meaningful action in our communities and workplaces.”