Fitzroy Crossing community takes stand against domestic violence after woman's death

Australia Broadcast Center

06-05-2025

Men have taken the lead in a large-scale community march through a remote WA community in a bid to take a stand against the scourge of family and domestic violence.
Around 100 people marched through Fitzroy Crossing, around 2,400 kilometres north of Perth, following the alleged murder of a 32-year-old woman by her partner in the town last year.
She was the first of two women in the Kimberley to die in suspected domestic violence incidents within six months.
As he stood before the silent crowd on Monday, Kimberley Aboriginal Law and Culture Centre (KALACC) chief executive Peter Murray said the woman was a family member.
Mr Murray speaks out about the impact of domestic violence.
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ABC Kimberley: Rosanne Maloney
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"A lot of people know what my family's been through before Christmas, and we're still in that grieving stage," he said.
"
So what do we do as a community? We have to wake up.
"
Mr Murray said drug and alcohol use, disconnection from culture, and poverty were all contributing to violence.
"How do we work with those families to make it better for our mob so our kids can live a good life?" he said.
Local school children painted signs as part of the march.
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ABC Kimberley: Rosanne Maloney
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Men take a stand
The Fitzroy Valley Men's Shed, Gurama Yani U, organised the rally and timed it with the launch of a new anti-violence campaign: Us Without Abuse.
Chair Mansfield Mukuchamano said the march was a direct response to the woman's death.
"The push for the actual march was in response to that incident … it impacts the whole town," he said.
"One of the reasons was that the [alleged] perpetrator was someone the men's shed had assisted to get employment."
Mr Mukuchamano says positive change is needed.
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ABC Kimberley: Rosanne Maloney
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Mr Mukuchamano said the tragedy made the group reflect on its role in prevention and how to support men more holistically.
"Let's actually have conversations that help to stop violence, that stop drug and alcohol abuse," he said.
"
Domestic violence exists and it's not accepted, and we should be growing now.
"
Men's shed director Ismahl Croft said there was a push to
"There's a big need to establish men's programs and men's groups, doing a ground-up approach where the community knows the solutions," he said.
Mr Croft says there is a push to create more support programs for men.
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ABC Kimberley: Rosanne Maloney
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Region's unacceptable rates of violence
The Kimberley continues to record
New police data shows 2,018 family-and-domestic-violence-related offences were reported in the region between January and March this year.
Family and domestic violence support services:
If you need help immediately call emergency services on triple-0
That includes 1,164 assaults and 289 cases of threatening behaviour.
There were 565 breaches of family violence restraining orders — the highest monthly total since records began in 2007.
In Fitzroy Crossing, local organisations have taken an increasingly public stance on violence.
Service organisations joined the community on the march on Monday.
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ABC Kimberley: Rosanne Maloney
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Campaign for hope and healing
Marninwarntikura Women's Resource Centre chief executive Emily Carter said she was hopeful the Us Without Abuse campaign would continue to grow.
The campaign launched earlier this year in Broome and has now officially started in Fitzroy Crossing.
Ms Carter hopes domestic violence can be tackled by the community.
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ABC Kimberley: Rosanne Maloney
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"It's about Kimberley people talking and the strength of our mob," Ms Carter said.
"We are strong in our culture and our communities and whilst we know that we have challenges, we can come together as Kimberley people to address the challenges going forward."
The campaign addresses all forms of abuse, including domestic, child, and elder abuse.
"We're wanting to change that narrative to say we can overcome this and, of course, our men are needing support as well," Ms Carter said.
Community members and Aboriginal elders also attended the event.
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ABC Kimberley: Rosanne Maloney
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Ms Carter said any real progress depended on tackling deeper issues, especially housing and access to services.
The Us Without Abuse campaign hopes to eventually travel to other towns across the Kimberley, sharing stories of change and hope.
Organisers say it is about reminding people of the strength that already exists in their communities — without abuse.
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