Hundreds protest gendered violence after death of Audrey Griffin in Central Coast

Australia Broadcast Center

27-04-2025

Warning: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that this story contains the name and image of a person who has died.
Hundreds of people marched in heavy rain on the New South Wales Central Coast to protest violence against women.
The rally, which started at Gosford Waterfront Park, was inspired by the death of 19-year-old local Audrey Griffin, whose body was found in Erina Creek on March 23 after a night out with her friends.
Audrey Griffin's body was found in Erina Creek on March 23.
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Supplied
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Police charged Adrian Torrens, 53, of her murder, but he died in custody before going to trial.
Mr Torrens was known to police with a criminal record including an AVO and was serving a community corrections order.
Local resident, and one of the event organisers, Lauren Gumbs said Ms Griffin's death had left their tight-knit community "horrified" and it should not have happened.
"We're marching today because enough is enough,"
Ms Gumbs said.
One of the event organisers, Lauren Gumbs, says the issue of violence against women has not featured in the election.
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ABC News: Nabil Al Nashar
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"Last year they
[the federal government]
declared a national crisis and then they barely said anything about it.
"Nobody said anything about it before the election, it just hasn't been an issue."
Two days ago, when Ms Gumbs started organising the event, it was under the banner of "#23TooMany", in reference to the 23 women who have so far lost their lives to violence in Australia.
A figure organisers attribute to the project that tracks all women killed nationally — Australia Femicide Watch.
"Already another lady's been killed in Victoria. So we're up to 24 Too Many now," Ms Gumbs said.
"We're gonna have to keep changing the hashtag unless something changes."
According to Australia Femicide Watch, 24 women have been killed in Australia this year.
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ABC News: Nabil Al Nashar
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'Emotionally taxing week for all women'
Piper Wyanz went to school with Ms Griffin. She lamented that her death had become another statistic, saying that while the issue of
gender-based violence affects everyone, women's safety had not been taken seriously.
She added that inadequate transport services in the area added to the problem.
"Politicians really love to use the word 'law reform', because we know that's an important thing that needs to happen, but it's also a long-winded process that can take years to do," Ms Wyanz said.
"Where I live, the latest public transport I can get is at 6:30 at night, and that is in no way stopping women from having to walk home alone at night."
Piper Wyanz, (left) went to school with Ms Griffin. Ruby Heronlittle, (right), says it's been an emotionally taxing week for women.
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ABC News: Nabil Al Nashar
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Ruby Heronlittle also braved the rain to attend the march, saying she had been feeling "anxious" after an "emotionally taxing week for all women".
"Everyone is showing up in the rain just proves we won't stand for violence against women," Ms Heronlittle said.
"We need action from parties to show us policies that are gonna make us feel safe in our communities and make women safe behind closed doors.
"We're calling for urgent action, which is funding for women shelters and front-line services."
Photo shows
Two women wearing white hug on a beach
More than 1,000 people have gathered on Terrigal Beach to mourn Audrey Griffin, a young woman who is alleged to have been murdered.
The march ended at the Central Coast Leagues Club were several women gave speeches, including young teenage girls and domestic violence survivors.
Another event organiser, Brianna Harvey from What Were You Wearing Australia, told the crowd violence was "not random, it is a pattern and it is preventable".
"Where is the outrage from those in power and where is the emergency level funding?" Ms Harvey asked.
Sixteen-year-old Scarlett Owens addressed the crowd, saying, "the Central Coast continuously ranks amongst the highest regions in New South Wales for domestic violence and it's not because women are asking for it".
"It's because of what boys are being taught from a very young age," she said.
"Today, I call upon all educators, public leaders and policy makers to consider how the way we respond or fail to respond to casual misogyny in both schools and communities shapes future generations."